To learn how students can use Blogs to express their understanding of subject matter
Friday, April 02, 2004
Today I am presenting about blogs to GMU faculty.
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Ok, I am going to start from the beginning. A blog (aka web log) is "a frequent chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links" (Lane Education Service District, click here for link).
Another definition from the article that I posted on 02/20/04 is:
"Blogging - a contration of the term 'web logging' - is perhaps best described as a form of micro-publishing."
Other definitions/descriptions include:
"an organic and unstructured format of delivering information via the WWW"
"firmly established as a web-based communication tool"
"theater of interpersonal communication in which 'exhibitionist behavior is encouraged, supported, and even sought' by 'cyber-voyeurs'"
As far as the potential of blogs as an educational tool, here are some descriptions:
"serves as an online journal encouraging personal reflection, and as a means of encouraging collaboration through the sharing of links to resources and up-to-date information (Oravec, 2002)."
"offers a 'unique voice' for students, empowering them, and encouraging them to become more critically analytical in their thinking because others can critique, comment, and interpret a blog (it is public) and therefore a student has to stand by one's opinions".
Hmmmm, I wonder whether there is any research supporting this compelling argument.
Another definition from the article that I posted on 02/20/04 is:
"Blogging - a contration of the term 'web logging' - is perhaps best described as a form of micro-publishing."
Other definitions/descriptions include:
"an organic and unstructured format of delivering information via the WWW"
"firmly established as a web-based communication tool"
"theater of interpersonal communication in which 'exhibitionist behavior is encouraged, supported, and even sought' by 'cyber-voyeurs'"
As far as the potential of blogs as an educational tool, here are some descriptions:
"serves as an online journal encouraging personal reflection, and as a means of encouraging collaboration through the sharing of links to resources and up-to-date information (Oravec, 2002)."
"offers a 'unique voice' for students, empowering them, and encouraging them to become more critically analytical in their thinking because others can critique, comment, and interpret a blog (it is public) and therefore a student has to stand by one's opinions".
Hmmmm, I wonder whether there is any research supporting this compelling argument.
Friday, February 20, 2004
Ok - back to blogging about blogging. I just read an article by Williams and Jacobs (see http://www.jeremybwilliams.net/ETL2003paper.doc)
It was an interesting critique. For example, John Hiler describes "the blog" as "the latest disruptive technology" meaning the next "killer application" that is going to take things by storm. In fact, it is predicted that the number of hosted blogs created will exceed ten million by the end of 2004. Others however, view it as "‘narcissistic, banal and faintly ridiculous online subculture’ (Bryant 2003)". Described as a form of micro-publishing, journalists view it as a serious threat to their profession. Here we go again. Haven't we heard this before?
Whenever a new technology comes about, we always feel threatened by it. Well guess what, we created it didn't we? We created it because we could. So instead of feeling threatened by it, we should embrace, weave it into existence just like we did with email, the phone, the microwave, need I go on?
It was an interesting critique. For example, John Hiler describes "the blog" as "the latest disruptive technology" meaning the next "killer application" that is going to take things by storm. In fact, it is predicted that the number of hosted blogs created will exceed ten million by the end of 2004. Others however, view it as "‘narcissistic, banal and faintly ridiculous online subculture’ (Bryant 2003)". Described as a form of micro-publishing, journalists view it as a serious threat to their profession. Here we go again. Haven't we heard this before?
Whenever a new technology comes about, we always feel threatened by it. Well guess what, we created it didn't we? We created it because we could. So instead of feeling threatened by it, we should embrace, weave it into existence just like we did with email, the phone, the microwave, need I go on?
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
It has taken me a longggg time to respond to your blog invitation. I am introducing blogging to my emerging tech students and hope they will use this online publishing/ discussion genre effectively.
Monday, September 15, 2003
BloggerPro which used to cost $35 / yr and offered more features is now being folded into basic Blogger.....email replies??
Have you added the BlogThis link to your browser and tried it? It seems to let you post to your blog from a separate little window without logging in the long way.
PS - We are in the process of upgrading our GMU Townhall conferencing tool (WebCrossing product) and adding Weblog and Wiki tools. More to come on this.....
Have you added the BlogThis link to your browser and tried it? It seems to let you post to your blog from a separate little window without logging in the long way.
PS - We are in the process of upgrading our GMU Townhall conferencing tool (WebCrossing product) and adding Weblog and Wiki tools. More to come on this.....
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
I’ve been working to understand blogs since this past May when a GMU faculty member first clued me into blogging. I then went to a conference and met several people who were involved with blogging or related technologies such as the RSS …I was contracted to write up a short user guide to blogging for the New Media Centers consortium and pulled together some information and links, but they haven’t put it up yet.
Here is what I know in small bites. Weblogs can be used in a lot of ways, but blogging is generally considered a quick and easy way for personal expression. It may be thought to have a certain sophistication attached to it that goes beyond that of webpage publishing.
I am more interested in blogging as a tool for collaboration and knowledge building, rather than for personal journalizing. Blogs can be used to build knowledge as you can link blogs to other blogs and syndicate your blog. I am intrigued by the programming technologies like RSS syndication feeds, Trackback, permalinking, link linking and other dynamic features that help you automate the knowledge building process. This kind of dynamic knowledge building is a little more cumbersome to accomplish with listservs and discussion tools.
Glad you are looking to explore this, Nada. Here is the blog I started to see how it works: http://bloggingedu.blogspot.com/
I used Blogger too but hosted it on their server. The first thing one wants to do is to get a commenting feature activated. I picked one from a list I have. I guess the difference between mine and yours is anyone can find my blog and comment on it – Shout Out, whereas the way you set yours up a person has to be invited in and given access. Was this something you consciously chose from the set up settings?
-rick
Here is what I know in small bites. Weblogs can be used in a lot of ways, but blogging is generally considered a quick and easy way for personal expression. It may be thought to have a certain sophistication attached to it that goes beyond that of webpage publishing.
I am more interested in blogging as a tool for collaboration and knowledge building, rather than for personal journalizing. Blogs can be used to build knowledge as you can link blogs to other blogs and syndicate your blog. I am intrigued by the programming technologies like RSS syndication feeds, Trackback, permalinking, link linking and other dynamic features that help you automate the knowledge building process. This kind of dynamic knowledge building is a little more cumbersome to accomplish with listservs and discussion tools.
Glad you are looking to explore this, Nada. Here is the blog I started to see how it works: http://bloggingedu.blogspot.com/
I used Blogger too but hosted it on their server. The first thing one wants to do is to get a commenting feature activated. I picked one from a list I have. I guess the difference between mine and yours is anyone can find my blog and comment on it – Shout Out, whereas the way you set yours up a person has to be invited in and given access. Was this something you consciously chose from the set up settings?
-rick
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Today I am explaining to my students what blogging is ....
