Blogging: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners
“TELL
ME AND I FORGET. TEACH ME AND I REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME AND
I LEARN.” –BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Blogging
VS discussion board activity
Is blogging the same as discussion board
activity? Oliver and Coble (2016) explain that a blog is a kind of social
media tool that allows one to share ideas with authentic audiences and to
engage those audiences in conversation. Most blogs look something like
journals, with a series of “posts” appearing on the blog in reverse
chronological order. Typically, blogging software is very easy to use, but also
flexible enough to allow for customization in both style and structure. Thus,
the blog possesses customization features that discussion board activities
lack. In that way, blogging is more attractive than discussion board
activities. On the other hand, Hoekman (2017) observes that “the physical view or layout of the
course discussion boards is identical throughout each course as this is
dictated by the learning management system interface. The faculty member then
can choose whether to alter the structure and flow of the discussion board by
how they choose to have the students leave posts on the discussion board”
(p.34) Even though blogs and discussion boards are asynchronous forms of
communication, their design and overall objective differ. A blog is a dedicated
space on the web where writers, or “bloggers” can express their ideas and
opinions freely. Depending on the amount of exposure, bloggers could engage in
conversations with their “followers”. In a discussion board, the focus is on
the exchange of ideas as a community.
The many benefits of
blogging
As
one of the many (borderline) millennials who saw the birth of the Internet and
the opportunities that came with it, I am familiar with blogging. You can see
my story HERE. The freedom that blogging promotes can be beneficial for the
“blogger”, and could be able to foster the student’s non-cognitive competencies
in a more relaxed environment. Oliver and Coble (2016) indicate that when writing for blogs, students can
experiment and interact digitally in a relaxed and low-risk environment. Blogs
can be an excellent balance between the rigor and structure of a formal written
assignment and the freedom to experiment with ideas and arguments. Bruff (2016)
remarks that when students would write having the instructor in mind as the
only reader, the instructor could read between the lines, but if students write
for peers who are just informed in the subject as the writer, then they have to
make an extra effort to explain themselves.
The dark side of the blogging
Before you step
in the blogging wagon, there are a few things to consider. The instructor that
assigns blogs must be clear and detail on the expectations for the blogger, in
order to promote an in-depth analysis over a certain topic. If the educator is
vague in the instruction, students would feel lost and unmotivated to start a
blog. Another aspect to consider is how the instructor ought to be aware of how
time consuming it could be for the educator to read, reflect and grade. King and
Cox, (2011) indicate that “it seems obvious that when an instructor asks
learners to create blogs she needs to read them on a regular basis, but this
task can become daunting if not planned and managed well” (p. 93).
It is also
important to consider the Internet adoption, digital use divide and the digital
literacy of the students. King and Cox, (2011) state that establishing blog
accounts and learning to use them were not intuitive skills for most students
(p. 94). Furthermore, there are technical aspects of the use of blogging that
are native to the website itself. Oravec (2002) remarks that “one practical
problem with weblog construction is that Internet addresses often change; a
weblog that is not regularly maintained can have ‘dead links’... The problem of
preserving or archiving weblogs for posterity will thus present challenges,
especially in classroom contexts where educators may want to preserve some
continuity over time in the materials under discussion” (p. 618). For
educational purposes, a blog should be considered as a timed project, for all
the participants to observe the growth of the writer.
Blogging can be
a long-lasting, enthusiastic opportunity to learn and grow through a collaborative-based
online community. Blogging can also create lifelong bonds between students,
peers and faculty. Despite of some potential roadblocks, the overall blogging
experience will be beneficial for the learner.
References
King, K. P., & Cox, T. D. (2011). The Professor’s Guide
to Taming Technology: Leveraging Digital Media, Web 2.0 and More for Learning
(1st ed.). Information Age Publishing Inc.
Oravec, J.A. (2002). Bookmarking the world: Weblog applications
in education. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45, 616–621.
Oliver, K. H. and Coble, R. R.,(2016). Teaching with Blogs.
Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. Retrieved [2019, March 25] from
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-with-blogs/.
Bruff, D., VandyCFT.
(2016, Jun 30) Why did you decide to use a blog in your course? Retrieved [2019,
March 25] from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxxtd1HYJww
Your quote caught my attention as soon as I opened your blog. I just had a placard of that quote made as a going away present for my boss. I really enjoyed reading your blog. Your insights are all the more poignant since you are a longtime blogger.
ReplyDeleteI also like the way blogging is a little less formal but still allows for critical thinking and reflection, not just in an educational setting but for life in general. You exemplify this in your past blogs. Have you ever had comments you needed to remove from your feed, or has your experience been a good one?
Thank you for your insights!
Thank you! Answering your questions, Yes! there's been some comments I've had to remove, mostly because they were flaming. When you give your opinion or express your individual thoughts, you need to understand that not everyone is going to feel identified with them, and there are some people who would try to harass and provoke a bad "netiquette". I have also had to remove posts and twits on my own, sometimes due to privacy reasons (I have a twitter account that I try to keep personal) or because I have written something out of anger, and I quickly delete those because sometimes what you say out of anger does not have the best language, manners or self-reflection at all!
DeleteI am glad there is such a thing as netiquette. I do know that not everyone follows it which mirrors life in general, which is sad. I am sorry you have had to go through that, but glad you are able to get past these issues and still continue with your journey blogging.
DeleteHi Elsa,
ReplyDeleteI think you touched on something really important that is seen often on the web; the quest to meet others like you or connect with others who have similar interests, through the online publication of information about a particular topic. Merchant (2006) discusses how the “study of adult e-communication shows that much online interaction is interwoven with identity performance” (p. 235). Identify performance in the studies referenced was observed during a time where face-to-face interaction declined, and online platforms were becoming more popular. Technology also allowed people to reach others (geographically speaking) that they may not have been able to connect with prior. By having someone ‘out there’ with had similar interests, online forums and blogging became more personal and more intimate, although the connections were no longer face-to-face. People found new identities. You were on the front edge of this technology (I also recall starting a blog…twice(!) when it first became popular and it was not long before I couldn’t keep up with the daily or weekly writing that I thought needed to happen) and essentially created a new social network for people interested in either rock or goth, or both. I remember thinking that the connections I made with others in the early blogosphere and MySpace era was a fascinating concept. Now, it continues to amaze me how the internet can bring people so much closer and make the world a smaller place. Great post, great blog Elsa!! I loved reading about your early blog.
Sara
References
Merchant, G. (2006). Identity, social networks and online communication. E-Learning & Digital Media, 3(2), 235-244.
Thanks for stopping by Sara!
DeleteHi Elsa,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. I agree with you that using is a way to connect with other individuals who have similar interests that you have. It provides a "freedom" for the individual to share with the public audience. Ramaswami (2008) remarks, "students commented that blogs helped them organize their thoughts, develop their idea, synthesize their research, and benefit from their classmates' constructive comments" (22). A con I am further exploring is privacy of the individual creating the blog and making sure they have an awareness that the information they type will be shared with the public. This is my first experience with blogging and I am a little nervous. I am hoping as this class continues I will become more comfortable. Thank you for sharing your blog.
Reference
Ramaswami, R. (2008). The pros of blogging (and a few cons, too). T.H.E. Journal 21-25.
Thanks for stopping by, Colleen!
DeleteElsa, Your blog is inspiring in how you’ve embraced it, and really made it your own! From a peer level, I’m very impressed. You say “A blog is a dedicated space on the web where writers, or “bloggers” can express their ideas and opinions freely. Depending on the amount of exposure, bloggers could engage in conversations with their “followers”. In a discussion board, the focus is on the exchange of ideas as a community.” Would you consider these differences positive or negative from an educational standpoint, or simply a matter of different tools to be used strategically for different educational outcomes?
ReplyDeleteAnd your point about how regular maintenance is required to prevent dead links is very poignant to the nature of a time limited discussion board for a class vs a blog that will last feasible on the internet for as long as the writer desires (or even forever if you buy into the logic that once something is on the internet it is out there forever). Your point about considering a blog a timed project for educational purposes is a good way for getting around that long term challenge, and giving allowances for students who may experience that problem over time.
"Would you consider these differences positive or negative from an educational standpoint, or simply a matter of different tools to be used strategically for different educational outcomes?"
DeleteI don't think the differences are positive or negative in regards of blogging vs discussion boards, but -as you said- these are different tools designed for different scenarios. I love the practicality of the discussion boards, and the customization of the blogs! Thank you for stopping by!
Elsa,
DeleteI think I have to agree with you, they are different tools for different scenarios. I think they both have useful applications. When users (instructors and students) are aware of the pros and cons of each application, they can both be used for great reflection and critical thinking tools.
Your comment about aspects of the blog that are intuitive to the technology sparked a thought with me. While we are in the process of learning how to expand our toolbox for adult learners, I really wonder how some of this technology would affect someone who wanted to come back to school to pursue a second career. Not everyone is tech-savvy and some people are perfectly happy NOT being reliant on technology...how would those learners react if they enter back into the classroom at this point? They most likely would not choose an online environment but would then be using things that were not in school 20 years ago...20 years ago, internet was not part of the classroom, powerpoint was just getting started and most work was face-to-face, pencil and paper. Would todays environment cause those students to give up or would they push through to survive? I can certainly see how we would benefit them from teaching technology, however, how much time would the instructor have to spend just teaching them how to go online, let alone how to use the tools?
ReplyDeleteJust some thoughts....
Ksu1msm,
DeleteI am actually one of those people who is coming back after 20 years. I graduated my bachelor's degree in 1993. I am also slightly technologically challenged (I struggled to build my blog site, but got it done.) But all this being said, I believe it depends on the person. I welcome the challenge of learning something new, but I know that not everyone does. I think it all depends on the personality of the person.