Blogging in Distance Education!

By: Josh Bergquist and Dustin Mees

Why Blog?Blogging gives you a chance to communicate

your thoughts and ideas with your

classmates in an asynchronous

setting.

You can explain

whether you agree or disagree

with a topic.

You do not have to fight for a chance to ask and

answer questions.

Because students have time to

think about their response, they

are able to have higher level

thinking discussions.

Asynchronous Tools An asynchronous tool is one where

participants are communicating at different times and places.

Blogging is a type of asynchronous tool.Advantages: Students have time to reflect

and provide meaningful answers. Other benefits to asynchronous tools such as discussion boards are student debates where learners have to negotiate and provide evidence for their posts, threaded discussions where students are communicating making connections and looking deeper into the content, and finally a place to model assignments and ideas (Simonson et. al, 2006, pp. 272)

Asynchronous Tools ContinuedAsynchronous, on the other hand, is more

learner-centered (Wang & Gearhart, 2006, pp. 70). Also, students that are more shy also more likely to provide responses because of the less intimidating environment.

Disadvantage: The major set back for asynchronous tools is that there may not be immediate feedback. Asynchronous will be ineffective if the student has to wait long periods for a response on email or discussion board (Wang & Gearhart, 2006, pp. 71)

Using a Blog in Distance Education

You can use a blog within a distance education course by posting the blog link on your course homepage, for example D2L. Along with a discussion board, a blog would provide another medium for interaction. Students would be able to design their own blog spaces and make them more personal to their needs. Blogs could be used to address teacher asked questions or as a communication tool between students. This can also act as a message board where students can post their own questions and receive answers from their classmates and instructor.

ReferencesSimonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., &

Zvacek, S. (2006). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Wang, H., & Gearhart, D.L. (2006). Designing and developing web-based instruction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Example

The following is a Power Point presentation that would be posted on D2L to introduce students to blogging and assist them in beginning to blog.

How Do I Blog?You are going to get onto the Internet and

type in the follow Web address.http://sites.epals.com/epjmsmath1/Once you get onto the site, you will enter

your log-in name and password. This will take you into your personal blog space.

Your next step will be to read the question I have posted and answer it on your blog.

Last, you will reply to at least two other blogs from your classmates!

How Will I Be Graded?There is a rubric that the teacher will use

with the following:You will get 2 points for each part

Answering all parts of the questionBasing your answers off evidenceReflecting Critical ThinkingNetiquette Reply to 2 other students

Answer all Parts of the QuestionAfter reading my question and comments,

make sure to answer every part. I usually have two or three parts to answer.

Evidence

For your answer, make sure you are basing your feelings and ideas off evidence from the story we are reading.

For example- “I believe it is important to help others because it can make ourselves and the other person gain confidence. I remember Stanley from Holes did not have a lot of confidence at the beginning because he was overweight, but after making friends and helping each other, he felt better about himself.”

Make a lot of connections with the text based on your own life, a friends life, or other movie or book you have read.

Reflecting After you answer the question, reflect about

the situation. Explain what happened, why you think it happened and what you would do differently if anything. Reflection helps you become a deeper thinker!

Critical ThinkingThis is one of the most important parts of the

blogs. Critical thinking skills in this blog is being able to look beyond the question and apply an answer to the real world and yourself. Reflection is part of this along with evaluation. This looks at whether you were able to make connections and conclusions to what you have read.

Reply to 2 Other StudentsAfter you have posted on your blog, you need

to read some of your classmates blog posts. You should reply to at least 2 other students. When you reply to them, you need to explain what you liked about their post and what you did not agree with if anything. Make sure to explain why you agreed or disagreed!

Netiquette NETIQUETTE REFERS TO ETIQUETTE ON THE WEB OR

THE WAY YOU SHOULD BEHAVE. THE FOLLOWING ARE A LIST OF RULES TO ABIDE BY WITH THE BLOG:

REMEMBER THE HUMAN FOLLOW THE SAME STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR

ONLINE THAT YOU WOULD IN REAL LIFE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE IN CYBERSPACE RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE’S TIME AND FEELINGS MAKE YOURSELF LOOK GOOD ONLINE SHARE EXPERT KNOWLEDGE HELP KEEP FLAME WARS UNDER CONTROL (DO NOT

START ANY FIGHTS) RESPECT OTHERS PRIVACY DON’T ABUSE YOUR POWER (REMEMBER BLOGGING

IS A PRIVELAGE IN THIS CLASS!) BE FORGIVING OF OTHER PEOPLE’S MISTAKES!