Blogging for fun and learning

AEJMC 2007

Washington, D.C.Doug Fisher, University of S.C.

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So you’re thinking of having your So you’re thinking of having your students blog ...students blog ...

Just one question ...Just one question ...

Why?Why?

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Reasons to consider a blogReasons to consider a blog

• Writing practice with the feel of getting published (with these possible additions)

– Feedback from readers– Meet deadlines

• Editing practice (with possible additions)

– Effective linking– Community moderation

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Reasons to consider a blogReasons to consider a blog

• Allow students to work out extended thoughts beyond the time/space available in class.– Individual with feedback or no feedback?– Or collaborative?

• Robust debate– Another way to also teach moderation of

online communities

• Share information and updates– Alternative to e-mail

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Blog v. Wiki

Item 1

Item 2

Item 3, etc.

Blog

Topic 1

Version 4

Version 3

Version 2Version 1

Topic 2

Version 4

Version 3

Version 2Version 1

Wiki

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Wiki

Blog

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A wiki = a pond. Can be deep, can be large, but you still see the boundaries.

A blog = a river. You see things flowing by, but never really see the beginning or end

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So what is a blog?

• Mechanical definition– Publishing system– Each entry own URL– Reverse chronological

order– Time/date stamp– Archive– Generally auto format

(headline, entry, comments)

– RSS feed generated

• Ethos - FTLP– Frequent– Transparent– Links– More Personal

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Technical reasons to blog

• Ease of use

• Low or no cost

• Little lead time -- get it running NOW!

• Greater sense of permanence than course management software.– Use a free/low cost hosted service or seek

place on college servers?– Who owns content once student graduates?

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Lots of free or low-cost services

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Types of blogs

• Diaries/microjournals: Generally more personal. • Link: Collections of links, minimal comment.• Comment: Often focused on one event, such as

a conference (or class)• Filter: Links elsewhere plus longer observations

(common journalistic form)• Story/“notebook”: Longer essays (includes photo

or word essays); the blog can be substituting for a more traditional media form.

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A filter blog (with a touch of diary)

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We used this “moblog” as a story blog

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Other things to consider

• If for writing and editing practice, you might want a public blog.– Individual or collaborative?– What kind of feedback?– Do you open comments?

• But:– Sensitive student can be hurt by feedback

• Moderate?– You have some responsibility– Activate RSS or e-mail alerts

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Other things to consider

• Comment blogs– Private might be best if the comments are on class

work, such as others’ presentations– Consider any blogging tools in your course

management system

• Link blogs– Work well as collaborative projects– Good public resource

• You need to be a bit of a cheerleader. Comment as often as possible. Use links in your comments. Show by example.

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Other things to consider

• You need to be a bit of a cheerleader. Comment as often as possible. Use links in your comments. Show by example.

• Provide clear focus and expectations– Summarize the idea behind the blogs in five words or

fewer.– Be clear in how often you expect postings or

comments.– Be clear in all the aspects you will use in a grading

rubric. (Frequency? Effective linking (define)? Topical and relevant commentary (how defined)?