Is a Blog Right for My

Class?Amy Goodloe

Teaching with TechnologyFall 2013

Common Faculty Question

I keep hearing about how great blogs are for teaching.

Should I use one for my class?

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

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

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

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.

Sample Faculty “Hub” on Weebly

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

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

Sample Research Blog:Students Use Through Process

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

Sample Research Web Site:Students Build Published Version

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

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…

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”

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

“Public Intellectual” Blog

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Blog Pedagogy: Scaffold Activities

Possible sequence: Member intros Comments on intros Reading responses Share relevant examples Comments on examples Analyze artifacts and so on…

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

Blog PedagogyYour Role

How to Kill a Class Blog micromanage how students use the

blog correct everyone's grammar grade everything

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

Sample Class Blog:End of Fall 2012 Term

Fall 2012 Blog Participation:3 sections; 54 students

Sample Class Blog:Fall 2013 In Action

So let’s recap…What exactly is the difference

between a blog and a web site?

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

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

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

More Resources

My help site for faculty and students:

http://digitalwriting101.net

Feel free to share with students and colleagues!

--Amy

http://amygoodloe.com