are blogs right for my class?
DESCRIPTION
Target Audience: College faculty Purpose: through a series of hypothetical "advice column" letters: -- Clarify the difference between blogs and web sites -- Identify best ways to use blogs for classes -- Help you decide if a blog is right for your class -- Recommend free web site and blog buildersTRANSCRIPT
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Is a Blog Right for My
Class?Amy Goodloe
Teaching with TechnologyFall 2013
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Common Faculty Question
I keep hearing about how great blogs are for teaching.
Should I use one for my class?
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My General Answer
That depends on what you want to accomplish:
a) Feature class resources in one central (and public) location
b)Design student projects with more lasting value than traditional papers
c) Help students deepen intellectual engagement through writing
d)Extend student engagement beyond the walls and time frame of class meetings
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Can You Be More Specific?
Coming up: Four hypothetical letters from
faculty that illustrate each scenario
My response to whether a blog is right for that scenario
Goal: to help you: Understand the difference
between blogs and web sites Feel more comfortable choosing
the option that best suits your needs
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Dear Amy:
My students take quizzes and post homework assignments on D2L, and that works pretty well. But I really don't like using D2L for my course materials.
The course builder is tedious and confusing, the design is bland, and each course lives behind a walled garden. I'd rather share my materials with the public, especially other scholars in my field.
Is a blog right for my class?
- No Walled Gardens
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Dear No Walled Gardens:
True or False? Students will not participate on it I will not contribute regular short
messages to it My main goal is to create a "central
hub" for course materials I want something with half the hassle
of D2L and twice as pretty
False: Yes, a blog might work.
True: No. Build a web site instead.
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Sample Faculty “Hub” on Weebly
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Dear Amy:
I don't mind using D2L for course content and daily activities, but I want to give students more incentive to produce research projects that might have value beyond the classroom.
Is a blog right for my class?
- Real World Value
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Dear Real World Value:
It depends on what you want students to do:
Option A: generate content throughout the
research process always see the most recent posts at
the top sort content by categories and tags comment on each others' posts
If A: give blogs a try let students work in groups to build
their own research blogs
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Sample Research Blog:Students Use Through Process
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Or…
Option B: publish only the final results of their
research work together on design and layout build something of lasting value
If B: suggest that students use free web site builders instead
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Sample Research Web Site:Students Build Published Version
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Dear Amy:
I want my students to help each other strengthen and refine their ideas, but when I encourage them to engage in thoughtful discussions in class, their contributions barely scratch the surface. And some students never speak at all.
I've tried assigning discussion topics on D2L, but but they never really take off.
Is a blog right for me?
- Iron Sharpens Iron
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Dear Iron Sharpens Iron:
That's pretty much what happens on the best blogs, so most likely: yes
Possible options: one class blog several group blogs individual student blogs
(networked together)
But Blogger Beware…
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It takes some work!
Students will need coaching intellectual discourse is not their
native language model the behavior you want create a safe space for students to
develop an "intellectual voice”
Scaffold assignments start with low-stakes activities that
build skills be creative: have groups of bloggers
engage in “mock debates”
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Coach, Don’t Criticize
Coach through example, not correction
provide sample scholarly blogs participate as a blog member, not
The Judge
Clarify expectations, but don't micromanage
too many criteria = paralysis
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“Public Intellectual” Blog
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Dear Amy:
Students in both my campus sections are so lively and engaged while we're in class, but we always run out of time to discuss everything.
Students often email me after class to share links or other relevant tidbits from class discussion, but by the time our next class meets, the previous discussion has lost steam.
Is a blog right for me?
- Full Steam Ahead
PS: I also teach an online section, but sometimes it never even gathers steam.
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Dear Full Steam Ahead:
Yes, definitely! This is what blogs are most well-suited for.
Here’s your recipe for 24/7 lively discussion among your students:
Create a class blog
Invite students in all sections to join
Sit back and watch the magic happen
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Just kidding!
Here's a better recipe:
1. Learn how blogs work Start your own (or join one) on a
personal interest (Wordpress.com) Get the hang of categories, tags,
posts, comments, blogrolls, etc.
2. Set up a class blog that works like a real blog: appearance structure member participation
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Appearance
Use an appealing and user-friendly theme
Create a relevant header image Or ask students to contribute?
Enable social features
Encourage student self-expression Creative usernames Interesting avatars Embedding images in posts
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Structure
Use blog taxonomies: pages (you) & posts (everyone) categories (you) & tags (everyone)
Categories vs. Tags categories of books: mystery, science
fiction, fantasy, historical, romance tags for books: childhood, family
saga, vampires, WW II, dogs, strong female character
Be creative with category titles: Homework #5 Halloween & Gender Norms
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Member Participation
Encourage students to: share stuff:
Links, videos, resources, examples, observations, ideas in progress
provide support and encouragement respond to each other as colleagues-
in-training (not FB pals) ask some questions and answer
others go beyond the minimum requirement
for posting and commenting
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Blog Pedagogy: Scaffold Activities
Possible sequence: Member intros Comments on intros Reading responses Share relevant examples Comments on examples Analyze artifacts and so on…
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Blog Pedagogy:Design Good Assignments
open-ended (no right answers) encourage originality and
experimentation emphasize “reader friendliness” indicate a minimum but reward more give students choices in topics,
categories, etc. like training wheels: take them off
when the time comes
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Blog PedagogyYour Role
How to Kill a Class Blog micromanage how students use the
blog correct everyone's grammar grade everything
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Blog PedagogyYour Role
How to Kill a Class Blog micromanage how students use the
blog correct everyone's grammar grade everything
How to Grow a Class Blog don't try to read and comment on
every post share teacherly comments in private participate as a "senior colleague"
not as “the boss”
be as authentic as you want your students to be
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Sample Class Blog:End of Fall 2012 Term
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Fall 2012 Blog Participation:3 sections; 54 students
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Sample Class Blog:Fall 2013 In Action
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So let’s recap…What exactly is the difference
between a blog and a web site?
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Remind me again: What’s the difference?
BLOGS
process oriented
emphasizes recent posts
navigate content through categories, tags, dates
members subscribe for updates and to comment
possible setups:
instructor is only author but students can comment -OR-
all students are authors
BEST FOR: Providing a place for ongoing conversations
WEB SITES
publishing oriented
features static pages (no dates)
navigate content through menus
no or limited commenting function
possible setups:
instructor is sole manager -OR-
students manage their own research sites
BEST FOR: Showcasing “finished” materials or research projects
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Free Web Site Builders
Recommended: Weebly.com easy: drag and drop (not HTML) pretty (not like old builders or
wikis)
Another option: Google Sites CU “branding” easy to use but kinda ugly
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Free Blog Builders
Recommended platform for class blogs: Wordpress.com
Hugely popular (and free!) Pretty easy to use Great help community
For individual student blogs: Tumblr.com
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More Resources
My help site for faculty and students:
http://digitalwriting101.net
Feel free to share with students and colleagues!
--Amy
http://amygoodloe.com