Learning Ecosystems

Can blogging make a difference? — from CampusTechhnology.com by Denise Harrison featuring the work of Todd Ide, a Michigan State University doctoral student

Excerpt:

Positive Results
Students reported positive results, with benefits such as “providing an outlet for thinking about things we talked about in class.” Students began almost immediately as a result to make more interesting observations online than in class or in papers. In collaboration with peers they extended the analysis beyond the obvious, building arguments carefully yet succinctly, often by synthesizing the postings preceding theirs. “They made a real attempt to communicate something about which they felt strongly,” said Ide.

Other positive results included:

• The class was only held once a week, and blogging proved to be effective for extending the discussion during the days in between;
• When a student encountered something interesting pertaining to the subject, he or she didn’t have to wait an entire week to share that information with the rest of the class;
• Blogging also provided a way for students reluctant to share in a classroom setting to find their voices and express themselves in a less intimidating setting. One student thought it was “cool that she was interested enough in the subject to post about it”;
• The blogging aspect of the class helped some students overcome a sense of isolation;
• The blogging helped create more intimacy with fellow students, leading to a greater sense of community;
• The exposure of their posts to meaningful audiences, including other students, and a potential global audience, encouraged careful reflection and articulation of the subject;
• Blogging helped students direct their own learning;
• Blogging increased the sense of engagement in the course material, providing the scaffolding necessary to support student learning.

Challenges of Incorporating Blogs into Curricula
“While the students reported positive experiences with blogging overall, that’s not to say this technology is without its problems,” said Ide. [Article here.]