hi, all. so i've finally entered the fray of the blogging discussion - which has been going along swimmingly without me or my direction, i'll add - and i wonder about your experience with the blg (as a student in 61094, as a future teacher who might/might not adopt blogs).
one thing i notice every time i use blogs in my classes is how difficult it would be to dominate the conversation as a teacher. although i guess i could. i guess i could require students to post responses to my initial "new post" so i determine the topic/focus/direction, or i could just post more than everyone else. as it is, though, my comments are embedded in the strands as just another, equally weighted contribution [at least in its appearance in the stream of conversation - perhaps there are those of you in the class who will value them as the highly intelligent, pure gold thoughts they really are. :-) ]. we'll read about wait time later in the semester, but i'll foreshadow by saying that my waiting to respond to any blog postings was a kind of electronic-wait time. you've been having what appears to me to be a very productive, reflective, lively conversation.
what's it like for you as bloggers?
pam
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6 comments:
Speaking as a seasoned blogger, I have to say that I enjoy all of the blogging, mainly because I can express myself better in writing than I can in class. It's also nice to have summaries of everything I've read up on the Internet and easy to access.
I took another class a year ago with a blog, and the professor led the discussion for the most part, while still allowing students to post their own topics. With the professor in charge, I think that blog had more structure, which is why I asked on the first day if you'd be posting topics for us to respond to. I like this method because it's a chance to have more structured class discussion with the benefit of the students having the chance to be more articulate.
Laurin, Jamie, Becca (and others who might not've revealed their newbi status) - welcome to blogging. I am happy that I put blogging into the class if fo no other reason (and there are, in fact, lots of other reasons) than that you all are experiencing them. Maybe you won't all end up seasoned bloggers like Bob or the millions of people who blog every day, but at least you'll have experience (as writers, as writing teachers, as citizens) with a wide spread literate practice. I think it's crucial that writing teachers have experience in the ways people are writing now, even if we don't participate regularly in those forums.
later in the semester we'll chat online. maybe we should start im-ing each other?
p
I like blogging, though I am not as seasoned at it as Bob is. Until now, I have kept my blogging to mostly non-academic sites. (Myspace, facebook...) I think it is a good tool to use in the classroom. Firstly, it is practical. It uses a medium which most people in college are comfortable with, the internet, and it allows them to write informally, making them more comfortable expressing themselves. I think it also keeps me more engaged in the reading too. I read more critically because I know I have to post to the blog. When I simply read something and wait to respond to it to class, I don't think I am as invested. Plus, the blog allows those that are too shy to talk in class to offer their views. We get to hear everyone's voice this way.
I dont mind blogging. I must admit that sometimes it is difficult because it is easier for me to forget to do it rather than an actual hard copied response paper. But, i hate response papers so the blog is nice because we get to respond, but we have the ability to make it more informal and read everyone else's whenever we want. I like being able to through anything out there...
I've never blogged before, but I'm kind of fascinated by it so far. It's insane that all of our comments are stored right here, in this white space, with time and date and name attached. How ridiculously convenient!
I think for a grad class that doesn't meet as often it's a fabulous technique for encouraging regular dialogue.
But I will say that I'm weary of it for younger, less experienced students. It seems too easy, too convenient. (Wait, am I actually saying that it makes learning too easy? Is that even a sound argument?) Maybe you know where I'm trying to go.
I guess I think it's important to establish face-to-face communication skills before honing more technologically advanced ones.
I think it should be used only to enhance classroom discussion and interaction--not substitute them. I really enjoy how we're using it now, actually.
Yes, I’m a blogging newbie, but I’m glad that I have been exposed to this kind of forum. I do think that it is imperative for writing teachers to be familiar with popular writing mediums in order to be less of a “lame,” to use Hartwell’s term. It’s important to stay current. Although I do a great deal of im-ing (not that this is related to blogging, of course, but there is still a type of technical interface), I honestly don’t know if I’ll be doing much blogging in my personal time in the future. There is something about blogging that leaves me feeling a bit exposed! I’m sure that’s a ridiculous notion, and it probably stems from the idea that my words and thoughts are somehow “out there” indefinitely online. I know—it’s totally stupid. I’m trying to get over it.
I do appreciate the opportunity to read everyone’s thoughts on our class readings and discussions. The interactive element makes me more aware of what I write, since I’m not only writing about my thoughts, but also reacting to other class members’ posts. Sometimes keeping up with all the posts can be a challenge for me, but I’m working on reading and commenting more frequently! I guess that’s the key to productive blogging!
I still feel that a class blog might be a valuable addition to a writing course. As Mel mentioned, blogging can’t replace face-to-face communication. However, a blog does seem to be an approachable place for students to articulate ideas and opinions through writing. This enables them to participate in a kind of writing conversation—something we can’t quite achieve though response papers or essays. As Annette Powell mentioned in “Conflicting Voices in the Classroom,” students “more carefully consider their perspectives and arguments if they are first asked to share them with their peers” (162). Although I believe she’s addressing a type of workshop approach to writing, I think a blog can also be a way to for students to share ideas critically and thoughtfully. I don’t think blogging can replace essays or reflective journal entries, but perhaps there’s a place and time for class blogging!
Still, I am wondering how first year students might react to a class blog. I don’t want to underestimate students, but I wonder if a class blog might become unfocused or uninspired in a writing course. As usual, I really don’t know—but I’m keeping the option in mind for the spring!
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