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
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@PGarciaRU
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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
#RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU
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
#RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU
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.)
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Timeline
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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
#RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU
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
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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
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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)
#RUelearning2017 @PGarciaRU
What is yours?
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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
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