From the reading and looking at the resources on the Pedagogy First website, I see the purpose of and various ways that blogging is used in and outside the classroom. Blogging is a neat tool and unique how the experts define this tool and its use.
What might be the advantages and disadvantages of using a class blog or student blogs for your class?
Advantages
- Creates a forum where you can comment on a topic and share your opinion on a particular subject.
- An ongoing log for you and the class to refer to time and time again
- It is available and immediate for the class to access and share ideas as well as give each other feedback on a particular subject matter
- Another outlet of communication and a possible way to create community
- Getting everyone on board to participate
- Tracking the use of blogging and how some professors may use it as participation
- Is there a sense of community actually created through the use of blogging
- Possible barriers of communication (informal vs formal or required vs resource/outlet of communication)
I believe Google Site would serve as a great welcome to students. I would view a well developed web page as a solid foundation/introduction to the course with the syllabus, overview, assignments, and other tools that students could refer to throughout the course like an electronic syllabus especially with a video attached to the site. In a different setting for my RA staff, I used and presented a Google Site for my staff to access, use, and update information throughout the year. I believe explaining the purpose of the site and going through each tool really benefited the staff long-term and this site was a success in my eyes.
Did you have problems creating a google site webpage? I got frustrated with the whole process, but it could be that I just need to work with it some more to get used to it. Sometimes when things are easy, I try to make them too complicated. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Google site webpage was a challenge but I feel like step-by-step process or tutorial are benefical via YouTube. I am working on a church website using WordPress and it was hard at first until I found the right guide on YouTube to assist me through the development and design of the website.
DeleteGetting everyone on board to participate is my biggest headache, as once they are online; you will never know exactly what they are doing. So I wonder if there should be one mechanism to monitor and encourage online participation not only for everyone showing up, but really involve in it.
ReplyDeleteFang, I agree I think a facilitator should be intentional and proactive in the process to get everyone on board to participate. Someone who nudges the class to try it out and give it a fair shot.
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