It seems kinda strange to write about blogging on a blog site. I started this blog over 2 years ago but I have never posted something. I was nervous about having a world wide audience and fearful that I didn't really have anything important to say. I am working on overcoming my anxiety about writing. It is the weirdest thing to long to write yet despise writing. It is a quandary of mixed emotions. Now, however, I am somewhat forced to write (a benefit of graduate school).
So my first posting will be about the pros and cons of blogging in adult education. Yes, it is a grad school assignment.
Pros
- personal expression (there is a therapeutic aspect to writing). It also corresponds to the importance of reflection in learning. That is to analyze ones own learning experience.
-world wide access/audience (this is a global area of exposure). It allows for more feedback from other people, students, web members, and
instructors.
-opportunity for comments (could be conversation/dialogue). Again more feedback from other people.
Cons
-privacy/anonymity (this could be dangerous to be able to say anything without possible consequence).
-technically overwhelming (this is a new venue to learn to use). I guess my age is showing but I am finding it hard to work with the html here in the blog sphere. I guess I will have to create in word and then transfer it to here.
Difference of blogging from discussion threads:
- blogging seems more intimidating because it can be read by a wider audience than just the members of the class. The discussion threads are in a controlled environment of the on line learning site.
-I think that there is more opportunity to use technology with blogging if you are work in an education setting that may not have the resources of a secure discussion site.
Research has shown that the generation of students who have grown up with the internet are more open to use blogging and other social medias as a resource in learning. It is an arena of technology that many students are already comfortable with.
I am not sure how I can incorporate into my teaching. This is an area of pondering that I will need to consider. I am very interested in the multi-user blog where more than one person is contributing to the blog. All in all, this is an interesting challenge that I want to explore and learn more about.
