Transcript blog
Teaching with Blogs Boone B. Gorges CUNY Writing Fellow March 27, 2008 Part One The Web: Then and Now http://people.hofstra.edu/Boone_B_Gorges/ Is the Web worth it?: Then The Upside The Downside •Information becomes •Knowledge required: publicly available and easily HTML, FTP, etc. accessible •Interesting design engages the reader and enhances the content Totally worth it, dude! Most other people Meh. What has changed? •More people have access to the Web •More people are creating digital content (photos, music, videos) •Free services exist that allow people to put content on the Web (Flickr, MySpace, YouTube) •Technology has developed that drastically reduces the need for technical knowledge Is the Web worth it?: Now The Upside •Information becomes publicly available and easily accessible •Interesting design engages the reader and enhances the content •Multimedia complements textual content •Readership is no longer passive The Downside •Knowledge required: HTML, FTP,with Familiarity etc.certain types of software Still awesome! Most other people Getting there! Part Two Blogging at Queens College What is a blog? • Web + log • Frequently updated, with newest content at the top • Allows for reader response • Example: http://www.engadget.com Classroom blogging: Model 1 Example: Gorges •A single blog belonging to the instructor •Allows the instructor to provide running commentary on assignments, etc. •Allows students to respond to prompts, ask questions, etc. Classroom blogging: Model 2 Example: Wan •A single group blog •Allows individuals or groups to post •Allows students to read and respond to each other’s work •Ideal supplement to each-group-presents-aunit assignment model Classroom blogging: Model 3 Example: Sinn Example: Zimmerman Example: Perry Example: Stach •One blog per person, linked by a “blog roll” •Students read and comment on others’ blogs •Possible use: informal journalling •Possible use: workshopping formal assignments Logistics • Faculty workshops • Blogging at QC Portal – http://blogs.qc.cuny.edu • Blog Tutorials – http://blogs.qc.cuny.edu/blogs/blogtutorials Part Three Blogs in the Language Classroom Audio Example: Stach Example: Gabcast Example: Gorges Video Example: Jordy Example: Gorges Dark clouds, silver linings • Balancing student privacy with public nature of blogs • Understanding and respecting copyright • Keeping the focus on content, not technology