Blogs, Wikis, and ePortfolios: Benefits, Challenges, and Practical Applications for Multiple Disciplines

Blogs, Wikis, and ePortfolios: Benefits, Challenges, and Practical Applications for Multiple Disciplines

Presented by

• Teggin Summers• Amber D. Evans• Samantha Blevins

April 9, 2010

TopicsTopics

• Introduction• Blogs• Wikis• ePortfolios• Conclusion & QA

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BlogsBlogs

Samantha Blevins

What are Blogs?What are Blogs?

• Shorthand term means “Web log”• Online collection of personal commentary and

links presented in chronological order• Began as an online publication of personal

diaries• Evolved into a vehicle for editorials on

specific topics

What are Blogs?What are Blogs?

• Can be used as an alternative to mainstream media publications

• Allow room for personal perspectives and discussion between bloggers/readers

• Can help generate a strong sense of community between bloggers/readers

Who is Blogging?Who is Blogging?

• Online journals have been around longer than blogs, but now it is easier than ever for individual users to publish, there is no longer a need to know how to code HTML

• Blogs are seen in a variety of venues: entertainment, news, politics, research, education

• Other types: group blogs, family blogs, community blogs, corporate blogs

Who is Blogging?Who is Blogging?

• Types of blogs: WarBlogs, LibLogs, EduBlogs• Faculty are using blogs to• Express opinions• Promote discipline dialog• Assist as an instructional tool• Promote student personal commentary• Promote discussion among students

How do Blogs Work?How do Blogs Work?

• Bloggers enter their posts into a blogging application and save• Incorporate video, audio, images, hyperlinks, and

text

• Application will• Add entry to blog, making it available online• Alert subscribers of the blog

How do Blogs Work?How do Blogs Work?

• Subscribers and visitors can read postings and leave comments

• Blog entries are searchable by date and keywords

• Feedback by readers/subscribers can lead to meaningful discussion through • Comments on original blog• Trackbacks: responding in their own blog and linking to

the original• Through this linking and feedback, a blogs

popularity (and eventual credibility) is established

Why are Blogs Significant?Why are Blogs Significant?

• Engage people in knowledge sharing, reflection, debate, and attract dedicated followings

• Provide unedited expression, reaction, and connection without censorship

• Simplicity in creating and maintaining blogs• Discussions can take place between far-reaching

Internet communities• Can foster community growth• Can provide new ways of evaluation, testing, and

assessing student-created knowledge

What are the Challenges of Blogging?What are the Challenges of Blogging?• Biased or inaccurate information• Could be seen as factual, when it is really an

online place to speak and be heard

• Highly volatile• Can be edited or deleted at anytime

What is the Blogging Outlook?What is the Blogging Outlook?

• Blogs are becoming increasingly common• Currently 50 million people are now blogging

• Can provide personalized discussion boards• Foster community of interest• Can serve as a tool for reflection, sharing,

and knowledge building

How can Blogs be Used in Teaching and Learning?How can Blogs be Used in Teaching and Learning?• Increasingly becoming accepted as an

instructional technology tool• Reflection about classes, careers, or current

events• Capture and distribute student- and faculty-

generated content• Provide a forum for discussion to take

students beyond textbook or lecture content

WikisWikis

Amber D. Evans

What are Wikis?What are Wikis?

It is a powerful yet flexible collaborative communication tool for developing content-specific Web sites.

•A wiki is a Web page that can be viewed and modified by anybody with a Web browser and access to the Internet.•Popular Wikis include• Wikipedia, Wikibooks, Wikihow

•Many “flavors” of wikis available:• Which Wiki is Right for You? (A matrix)

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Who is using Wikis?Who is using Wikis?

People with Internet access and a desire to share and collaborate on knowledge.

•Started in mid-1990’s with scientists and engineers to create dynamic knowledge bases.•Subject-matter specialists (i.e., Wikipedia)•Educators

• Faculty and staff in higher education use wikis as repositories for meeting notes.

• Administration & GA’s record processes and procedures for posterity.

•Some institutions are experimenting with wikis as e-portfolios.

• Artifacts in a wiki-folio presentation are easily shared.

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How does it Work?How does it Work?

View & Edit changes while retaining the previous copy.

•Wikis use• computer scripting (programming)• text files• Web browser• Internet connection

•Edit a page• Sends a request to the server for the wiki page text.

•Save a page• Sends the revised text to the server and saves “an old

copy” as a previous revision.17

Wikis Vary from Type-to-TypeWikis Vary from Type-to-Type

• Features (tables, graphics, plug-ins, etc.)• User interface (toolbars, editors, help, etc.)

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Why are Wikis Significant?Why are Wikis Significant?

A content-focused approach makes it easy to collaborate and then export it to different formats.

•Access the current document anytime online.•Add new pages or change existing pages.•No HTML or coding is required.•Compare previous versions.•Identify who contributed content.•Export the wiki page to Microsoft Word or PDF.

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Some Challenges of WikisSome Challenges of Wikis

Wikis open windows to collaboration, but sometimes flies get in.

•Wikis may require monitoring.•May need to gain authorization to edit a wiki.•Learning curve (new toolbars, new tools)•Lack of some features (i.e., Word Count)•Content-focused not cosmetic.•Hierarchy doesn’t exist (like a concept map)•Collective group bias.•Remembering to use it!

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What is the Wiki Outlook?What is the Wiki Outlook?

The future: collaboration, content, & community.

• Wikis allow groups and communities to form around specific topics.

• The technology resides in the background, making the content the focus.

• Refined public wiki sites• Google Knol & Citizendium

• “Disposable” wiki sites for one-time uses.• Mobile (phone) wiki editing.

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How can Wikis be Used in Teaching and Learning?How can Wikis be Used in Teaching and Learning?Wikis are reflexive & adaptive, growing with use.

•Easiest and most effective collaboration tool.•Versioning shows

• Evolution of thought & contents• Authorship & ownership

•Can be used to • Create ePortfolios, • Collaborate on (research) projects, • Edit articles or textbooks,• Recording process and procedures,

•Do anything you can imagine!

ePortofoliosePortofolios

Teggin Summers

ePortfoliosePortfolios

• Overview of portfolios/ePortfolios• Benefits• Challenges• Conditions for Success• Examples

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Portfolios in academic contexts Portfolios in academic contexts

• Individual learning portfolios

• Course-based learning portfolios

• Programmatic assessment portfolios

• External accreditation portfolios

AssessAssess

ShareShare

Select ReflectSelect Reflect

CollectCollect

BenefitsBenefits

• Aids students self-assessment• Enables the tracking of growth over time• Highlights connections between

course/program activities and professional communities

• Facilitates academic richness – dialogue, communication

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Folio-ThinkingFolio-Thinking

Enables students to…1. Integrate and synthesize learning2. Enhance self-understanding3. Make deliberate choices in their learning

careers4. Develop an intellectual identity

Chen, 2004, Stanford Center for Innovation and Learning, http://scil.stanford.edu/

“e” Portfolios and eFolio Thinking“e” Portfolios and eFolio Thinking• Most obvious – incorporation of multimedia• Can save data for longer periods of time and

access from central systems• Highly portable and easier to share• eFolio thinking emphasizes synthesis,

integration, and communication

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ChallengesChallenges

• Can be hard to find the right system or approach

• Faculty support• Some disciplines do not lend themselves to

ePortfolio assessment• Techincal learning curve/technical problems

and support

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Conditions for SuccessConditions for Success

• Faculty promote value of eP• eP-based curriculum• Feedback• Time for development• Include engagement and personalization• Examples• Technical assistance

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3 Examples3 Examples

• Human Nutrition, Food and Exercise, Didactic Program in Dietetics

• English

• Graduate Music Education

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HNFEHNFE

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…HNFE…HNFE

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…HNFE…HNFE

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…One More HNFE Example…One More HNFE Example

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English 2614: Beginning the majorEnglish 2614: Beginning the major

• Unique Features• Digital narrative• Academic

Achievement• Student creativity

and focus on growth as an English major

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…English…English

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…English…English

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…English…English

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…English…English

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…English…English

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School of EducationSchool of Education

• Learning, Assessment, Prof. Dev.

• Very student-centered

• Lots of rich assessment data for accreditation

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Graduate Music EducationGraduate Music Education

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…Graduate Music Education…Graduate Music Education

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…Graduate Music Education…Graduate Music Education

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Thank you!Thank you!

• Questions?

Contact Information• Teggin Summers teggin@vt.edu • Amber D. Evans adevans@vt.edu • Samantha Blevins sjblevin@vt.edu

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