Reynard, R. (2008). Avoiding the 5 most common mistakes in using blogs with students. Campus Technology. Retrieved from http://campustechnology.com/articles/2008/10/avoiding-the-5-most-common-mistakes-in-using-blogs-with-students.aspx.
Article Summary:
This article is written by a woman who has used blogs in her university graduate classes for 5 years and has put together a list of 5 common mistakes that people make and how to address each one proactively.
The first mistake is Ineffective Contextualization. If a teacher does not provide a clear context that the blogging tool will be used in, then the students will not see the benefit of using that tool for learning, which will eventually lead to the student rejecting the tool altogether. The most effective use of blogging as a tool is for self reflection and thought processing, therefore a teacher must provide thought provoking questions for the student to blog about.
The second mistake is Unclear Learning Outcomes. In order to maximize the blog as a learning tool, a teacher must be clear about the course objectives, the student learning objectives and needs, as well as future application of that learning.
The third mistake is Misuse of the Environment. Blogs are not the same as a wiki and should not be used as an online discussion forum. Blogs are intended to be individual publications. Students should be encouraged to articulate their own thoughts and learn through the process of self reflection and developing their own voice.
The fourth mistake is Illusive Grading Practices. Grading a blog needs to be made clear at the beginning with a specific rubric so that students know exactly what is expected of them before beginning the assignment.
The fifth mistake is Inadequate Time Allocation. When using technology in a class, we often don't discuss time as a factor. An assignment such as a blog should be left open until the end of the course to help maximize the benefit to the student. Students should be made aware of the benefits this tool will provide them and what the expectations are for the assignment.
My Thoughts:
This article was helpful to me because I have tried using blogs in my high school classes but have found that it was not an effective learning tool. I did not set a clear grading rubric and did not have the expectations of my students clear in my head before giving the assignment. I used the blog more as a journal or thought log, but did not pose thought provoking questions to my students that would encourage them to think beyond the basic questions. I also encouraged my students to reply to each others' posts in the hopes to encourage the beginnings of a discussion about the topic. The author thinks this is not the best use of a blog. In the future, I will try to use a blog to promote self reflection and individual learning rather than a group discussion.
Article Summary:
This article is written by a woman who has used blogs in her university graduate classes for 5 years and has put together a list of 5 common mistakes that people make and how to address each one proactively.
The first mistake is Ineffective Contextualization. If a teacher does not provide a clear context that the blogging tool will be used in, then the students will not see the benefit of using that tool for learning, which will eventually lead to the student rejecting the tool altogether. The most effective use of blogging as a tool is for self reflection and thought processing, therefore a teacher must provide thought provoking questions for the student to blog about.
The second mistake is Unclear Learning Outcomes. In order to maximize the blog as a learning tool, a teacher must be clear about the course objectives, the student learning objectives and needs, as well as future application of that learning.
The third mistake is Misuse of the Environment. Blogs are not the same as a wiki and should not be used as an online discussion forum. Blogs are intended to be individual publications. Students should be encouraged to articulate their own thoughts and learn through the process of self reflection and developing their own voice.
The fourth mistake is Illusive Grading Practices. Grading a blog needs to be made clear at the beginning with a specific rubric so that students know exactly what is expected of them before beginning the assignment.
The fifth mistake is Inadequate Time Allocation. When using technology in a class, we often don't discuss time as a factor. An assignment such as a blog should be left open until the end of the course to help maximize the benefit to the student. Students should be made aware of the benefits this tool will provide them and what the expectations are for the assignment.
My Thoughts:
This article was helpful to me because I have tried using blogs in my high school classes but have found that it was not an effective learning tool. I did not set a clear grading rubric and did not have the expectations of my students clear in my head before giving the assignment. I used the blog more as a journal or thought log, but did not pose thought provoking questions to my students that would encourage them to think beyond the basic questions. I also encouraged my students to reply to each others' posts in the hopes to encourage the beginnings of a discussion about the topic. The author thinks this is not the best use of a blog. In the future, I will try to use a blog to promote self reflection and individual learning rather than a group discussion.
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