Learning to Blog is an online whitepaper-type instructional resource on coaching students in using blogs. The paper includes examples, best practices, and excellent references, and all recommendations are connected to the literature in this area. The suggested applications and link-outs to supplemental resources will be very useful to instructors wishing to implement blogging as an assignment within their classes.
Type of Material:
Reference Material & Developmental Tool
Recommended Uses:
The materials are most useful for a student-centered classroom and particularly for material requiring reflection and integration rather than memorization. The sample assignment is a starting point across a variety of topics or classes.
This material is written as a helpsheet that is directed toward faculty, rather than toward students. It is self-paced and asynchronous and may be browsed independently and returned to as needed. As it is presented in .pdf format, the file may be downloaded and viewed offline.
Technical Requirements:
No special tools are needed. Only a basic web browser is required.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The primary learning goal is to assist faculty with the development and implementation of blogging assignments in their courses. The resources, including a sample assignment, are useful for instructors interested in these types of assignments to promote critical thinking and writing skills. Additionally, this resource addresses ethical considerations of public posts.
Target Student Population:
The site is useful for faculty teaching undergraduate students and asking them to reflect on and integrate material while building their writing and critical thinking skills.
Although this document was not designed for students in the traditional sense, it may be useful for students pursuing a degree in education, either primary or higher education as well as instructional technology-focused degrees.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
A good understanding of the basic terminology associated with blogging and instructional technology would be useful, but it is not required for understanding this material.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Promoting critical thinking and writing skills is important across all levels of education. The author includes information any beginning (or advanced) instructor would need along with references.
Of particular note:This resource includes an excellent basic outline on the history and value of blogging, along with details on applications for blogging assignments across disciplines.
Concerns:
None.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The instructional blogging assignments are directly linked to the American Psychological Association’s undergraduate education goals (2007), thus supporting overall educational expectations and would assist in departmental assessment of courses.
This is a strong tool to use as a case study/whitepaper for presentation to faculty as well as pre-service and/or in-service teachers. It is limited in scope to specifically the "how" and "why" of blogging, but within this scope it will prove to be very useful for these specific populations.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
This resource is easy to access and read, and it is easily downloadable.
The site includes information on the ethical use of information and addresses common questions and lessons learned that will benefit any instructor incorporating instructional blogging into a class.
Concerns:
The Adobe checker for accessibility raised several flags. This would be a beneficial area for follow-up.
Creative Commons:
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