We are off! My students are starting blogs
Today in class I introduced the concept of blogs to my students in my Computer in Education class (that I am teaching to a cohort of graduate students). Actually, I had the assignment posted on my course website yesterday and I asked the students to take a look at it. By this morning a couple of them had already gone ahead and started their blogs before we even got to it in class. I'm excited to see how this works out.
What I am asking students to do is create a blog that they use as a reflective journal to guide them as they research a topic for my class. Specifically I've asked them: "Begin researching and reflecting your topic. As you do so, journal about your progress and your evolving ideas on your blog. Note: your blog is not a formal paper. Let it be a free-flow journal in which you explore ideas, pose questions to yourself and to others, and share your evolving findings. You will each be reading each other's blogs, and I ask you to comment on and share your thoughts on other's blogs as appropriate. This way you will be engaged in ongoing discussions with each other about the issues that are of interest to you. If you wish, invite others outside of our class to view your blog and to make comments (you may invite others to your own blog, but please do not give out the URL of the blogs of your peers without their permission)." I'm eager to see if this helps students with the writing of their research paper -- and to hear their views on whether they think it helps them. I'm inviting them to come and take a look at my blog here. So folks in my class, feel free to share your thoughts here on how your blog is helping you, and what your thoughts are about doing it! It would be great if others could read your comments (and I truly DO want your honest thoughts!).
I found an interesting article today about blogging statistics in the USA: The State of Blogging. Lee Rainie (2005). Pew Internet and American Life Project. What is interesting is the rapid increase not so much in people who are creating blogs, but even more so those who are reading them. I know I've found ones on international news (such as Iraq) certainly are providing rich insights into these events in ways that don't make headline news. It's really powerful to read people's first hand accounts of events. Of course it's really important to keep in mind that those blogs are personal journals -- no written to be objective documentaries of factual events.
posted by Helen MR at 11:00 PM
8 Comments:
What immediately strikes me is the similarities between WebX and Blogging. Both are posting your comments on a certain topic for others to read and respond to. I guess the main difference is that one is accessible to the world, and one is just specifically for this class. It is kind of scary to post your comments into the wide wide world, whereas posting in WebX with your own learning community is much more comfortable for me.
I am very intrested in asking questions on my blog I know there are others out there who are in the same boat.
Blogging can be helpful I would assume if you are looking for many ideas of several people that could possibly hit your blog site. The only thing that would concern me is exactly who I may be visiting with. Like Casey said in her post it is more comfortable to be in a learning community only and know who you are conversing with.
It seems like chat to me although it stays there for all to read. Perhaps it's the best of both...easy access and easy to comment but since it posts for more to read, more reflective thoughts and responses?
I am truly amazed at the powers of blogging - I think the example that one of your respondents provided was excellent. This is a great way to keep in touch with family &/or friends all over the world. I know that when my cousin was going through his chemotherapy and radiation treatments associated with his cancer they kept a handwritten journal. I think that if this were done online for others to view and respond to is wonderful and can provide great support for those with similar situations.
My comment to using Blogging in class is that I had never heard of Blogging until just recently. I don't know how I feel about Blogging becuase I have not used it and have never read anyone else's Blogs. We will see how it goes.
I am interested in seeing how blogs can help us in our learning. If I find this to be valubale for learning, I will try to use it with some of my students this fall....
When I first heard the concept of blogging earlier this year, I really didn't understand the value of it in an educational sense. But if I place myself into the shoes of a student - especially if that student was me 20 years ago - I can see the value a blog could provide, and give the student the security to form thoughts and opinions within a group without being judged. I think students, who like me, often pull back and not take risks. It is kind of like a virtual brainstorm session.
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