There’s not a lot of research on blogging in education but Ann Bartlett-Bragg has done some on the social aspects of the learning process using weblogs in her Reflections on Pedagogy: Understanding Adult Learners’ Experiences of Weblogs chapter for the BlogTalks Reloaded book (I can only find the book in German, but Ann’s contribution is in English). The book is a collection of presentations from the conference of the same name.
Ann’s paper includes initial results from her PhD research study that indicates, “the development of learning through self-publishing in a collective learning network has the potential to produce a deep approach to learning that enhances reflective, meta-cognitive, and critical writing skills.” Absolutely! Tony Karrer recently tuned into the importance of this reflective element…
The reason that I find myself pushing harder [for learning professionals to blog] is that I believe the evidence is mounting that it’s an incredible personal learning practice.
Ann’s paper is a relatively short 23-pages. She identifies a pedagogical framework that can be viewed as “an enabler where multi-linear pathways draw the focus on the social aspects of the learning process and strategies to support the learning experience” (vs. a focus on the technology).
The study involved sixty students (some undergrad and some corporate trainers) enrolled at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, who completed learning tasks using a blog as a journal for recording and managing their learning, publishing their work, and contributing to collective learning networks. Blogs were analyzed using phenomenographic methods to discover common experiences. Ann identified five ‘categories of description’:
- A – developing networks is constrained by what the technology can do and how it is used
- B – developing networks is conditional to creating an engaging online identity
- C – developing networks is reliant upon proficient writing – having opinions and being able to articulate them
- D – developing networks is about discovering others in similar fields of interest
- E – developing networks is about active participation, reading, writing, and exchanging opinions
After reading this I would, in practice, be certain not to underestimate the need for technology support up front. The students here used WordPress. My own learning curve with WordPress was relatively short. However, it was a good 30 days before I really started to understood/use things like trackbacks and I spent a good deal of time understanding the potential and deciding which ‘extras’ would be useful.
Comments from students about engaging online identities really struck a cord with me. The ‘about me’ description and how that might influence how and whom you interact with is interesting. I couldn’t help but think about the “we’re not worthy” schtick from Wayne’s World when I read those comments. “Intellectually inferior,” “not professional enough,” “not an expert.” and the “fan club” style readership (quoting each other, links, etc.). Stephen Downes and Jay Cross are probably the Aerosmith of the edublog space. [did anyone ever feel like they weren't worthy to comment or am I just insecure?]
In the paper, there’s an interesting comment from a student about blogrolls linking to other people’s names vs. a link describing the content. WordPress has functionality within the blog roll to include a description. I’m putting that on the to-do list.
For me, the best comments Ann includes are those related to deep learning. (Category E on page 18).
“When beginning to establish networks, I could not have predicted how much I enjoyed this process and the amount of knowledge that was gained.”
“…the learning that is related to a network is very powerful. I have learnt that you can get direct responses with many different opinions whether they are from an academic or a person that is really interested in the subject. There are so many different people with so many different opinions and advice that I am hooked.”
Ann outlines areas for further pedagogical attention :
- larger proportion of attention and continued monitoring from the educator will be required to support the learners with critical aspects that are related to technology proficiency
- more significance may be provided to enable learners to build their capabilities around identity and writing publicly
- enlist active participation of learners in making connections with others and exploring shared interests to provide modeling of behaviours to peers
Based on this initial research, it seems the potential of blogging in education is great for deep learning. And, I think we can’t forget how blogging improves writing skills. This is supported by research in the area of blended learning. Instructor perceptions nearly always included statements about improved writing due to the online aspect of traditional [f2f + e-learning] blended programs.
I can’t resist…
Half my life
is in blogs’ written pages
Lived and learned from fools and
from sages
You know it’s true
All the things come back to youBlog with me, blog for the year
Blog for the laughter, blog for the tears
Blog with me, if it’s just for today
Maybe tomorrow, WordPress will crash and take you away…Blog On Blog On Blog On
blog until your dreams come true…
[play air guitar like you're Joe Perry here]
Aerosmith, hacked version of Dream On
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