Maximizing blogging to promote learning...

Maximizing blogging to promote learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom

Próspero N. García, Ph.D. Assistant professor of Spanish Applied Linguistics Rutgers University, Camden

#RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

Engaging in eCommunication

  Twitter:

  #RUelearning2017

  @PGarciaRU

  Let’s eChat!


Overview Storify: Bottom-up blogging

  Blogging as critical thinking activity

  Forms of blogging: Advantages and disadvantages.

  Enhancing (?) classroom discussion through blogging

  Discussion #RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

Storify:Bottom-up blogging

  What is storify?

  Online app that allows users to create a story by searching posts through multiple social networks and putting them together in one place, elements into stories. Users can re-order the elements and also add text to help give context to the readers.

  Example:

  Advantages: access to discussions; multimedia elements; note taking tool #RUelearning2017

@PGarciaRU

Blogging as critical thinking activity   Present three types of pedagogical opportunities:

  Blogs as texts: as artifacts that highlight unique features of electronic discourse, topics, and information; Promoting traditional and digital literacy

  Blogs as mediational tools: Allow students to reflect on content knowledge and promote attention to a new contend and digital emerging knowledge, which is imitated, transformed, internalized by learners;

  Blogs as communication: sources of interaction to promote communication with other learners and the world


Adapted from Negueruela (2010)

Integrating Blogging into my own teaching & learning goals

  We need to consider 3 issues when assessing the potential effects of incorporating blogging into our classrooms:

  The potential benefits of blogging as a source for meaningful teaching and learning

  Our own pedagogical priorities, that is, how new technology matches, expands, or re-shapes our approach to teaching

  Its practicality

  Depending on how we set our objectives and the pedagogical tasks we value as teachers to promote learning, we will be able to assess and value the effects of implementing blogging into our classrooms


Blogging: Main considerations

  Timeline: Before, after, during class?

  Who is the moderator: Learner vs. Instructor

  Activity: Open-ended reflection, controlled reflection, guiding questions

  Format: Forum vs longer entries

  Medium: Sakai (blackboard) vs. Open blogs (Wordpress, etc.)


Timeline


Before After During

Pros Cons Pros Cons Pros Cons

Can be integrated in discussion Works as introduction to content

Comments are not very insightful Need for training

Insightful reflections Helpful review tool

Not so useful for classroom discussion

Serves as note taking tool Engaging for students

Tech. needs Training Time management

Moderator


Instructor Learner

Pros Cons Pros Cons

Guides discussion towards important points

Takes agency from students More prep time

More agency Ownership of blog Helps them reflect on material

Need for training Comments not as insightful Conversation drifts away from time to time

Type of activity


Open-ended reflection Controlled reflection Guiding questions

Pros Cons Pros Cons Pros Cons

Helps learners reflect on their own learning More agency

Sometimes off-topic Difficult for learners

Helps learners reflect on their own learning Topic is controlled

Less agecy Learners always on topic

More prep Less agency

Format #RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

Forum Longer entries

Pros Cons Pros Cons

Students engage in conversation

Conversation can be off-topic Busy work

More opportunities for reflection

Sometimes off-topic

Medium


Sakai Wordpress

Pros Cons Pros Cons

Easy to track Not very attractive Seems to be homework

Ownership = more agency = more motivation

More training Time consuming Difficult to track

My ideal format:

  Before class: Student moderators in Sakai create guiding questions that their peers answer in a forum format (Enhances classroom discussion)

  After class: Longer guided open-ended entries on Wordpress (More conducive to reflection)


What is yours?


Maximizing blogging to promote learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom Próspero N. García, Ph.D. Assistant professor of Spanish Applied Linguistics Rutgers University, Camden

Thanks! #RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

Context matters: WordPress vs. Sakai

  What?

  Creating an e-portfolio using WordPress

  Why?

  Greater autonomy, instant access, goes beyond the classroom, can be used for professional development or job hunting, very user friendly.

  How

  Sign up for an account, choose a template and start uploading materials. (Workshops )

  Example: #RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

WordPress:How to

  Get started: register, fill in your profile, and name your blog.

  Get comfy: learn your way around WordPress.com.

  Get personality: pick a theme to define the look and feel of your blog.

  Get configured: customize your theme to make your blog your own.

  Get published: write a post, write a page, and add some menus to help visitors get around.

  Get flashy: add photos, videos, audio tracks, and more.

  Get mobile: post from your tablet or smartphone, and never miss a moment of inspiration.

  Jennifer Pope, Fall 2013 #RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

Why WordPress? Agency and Ownership

  Critical Blog Entries

  Critical Analysis of Top 10 pedagogical apps

  Professional and Academic Development

  Developing and ePersona

  Professional exposure #RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

WordPress: Timeline

  September:19th: Workshop Wordpress

  September 29th : Complete Web architecture and provide address

  October 31st: Revision, analysis and pedagogical proposal (2 apps)

  November 14th: Analysis and revision: 8 educational apps

  November 21st: Troubleshooting session

  December 5th: Presentation of ePortfolios. #RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU

Maximizing blogging to promote learning...

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