Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Blogging: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners
Blogging is similar to a discussion board activity, but a blog is so much more than that. Discussion boards only can be seen by the specific group that is involved and normally in a discussion board a question is posed and people answer or discuss the question. In a blog, there could be a question posted, or a thought, an idea, a song lyric, a picture or video, etc. A blog is specific to the blogger and contains whatever the blogger wants (Blogger, 2013). Discussion boards are mostly kept quite to the individuals who are not involved, while blogs are out there for the world to see; anyone and everyone can see what is on someone's blog.
Blogs are much more personal and comes from what a person thinks, believes or feels. No one has to respond to the bloggers feelings, unlike in a discussion board an answer is always required from the original post. On a blog comments, not answers, are optional. The content of a blog is displayed in reverse chronological order and scrolling is required (Medina, 2009). The entire intent of a discussion board is decision making, where as a blog can be anything, even just a place for an individual to express their feelings (Medina, 2009).
I believe that with any electronic writing source, individuals are given power because they do not physically see the other people they interact with on the blog. However without physical interaction that can also be a negative because people become to bold through a blog and discuss topics about themselves that in any other instance they wouldn't want people knowing about. Blogs can be a positive outlet for a quiet individual or for someone who wanted to publish their poetry or song writing when they didn't have any other ideas how to get the work out to the public.
In my opinion I believe that blogging can be a positive implementation into the learning world when used correctly. Blogs are available to the entire world, so it is important to keep certain information private.
Blogger Tour. Blogger. 2013. http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g
Medina, C. (2009, May). Differences between blogs, wikis, and discussion boards. Retrieved from http://goingweb20.blogspot.com/2007/11/difference-between-blogs-wikis-and.html
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ReplyDeleteKelli,
ReplyDeleteGreat page and post. I too like the idea of empowering individuals to express themselves; I think a blog might be a better way for adult learners to share their ideas and experiences. Much less formal than the discussion boards.
It will take me a few days to learn to navigate this system... I am really looking forward to it.
Thanks Lynn. Good luck with learning to navigate the system. You'll get the hang of it in no time.
DeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteKelli,
I liked reading your comments in this blog post. I agree with what you stated regarding how blogs can empower individuals in ways that may not occur in a traditional learning environment. Blogs can be a great method and format to allow individuals to be more reflective and express themselves in a unique manner. Additionally, the blogs can serve as a great method to support self-reflection. Consequently, blogs help support key elements of andragogy. "Knowles asserted that adults have a deeply embedded meed to be self-directing through learning that addresses real-life problems or situations encountered at home or on the job." (King & Cox, 2011 p. 91).
King, K.P. & Cox, T.D. (2011). The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age.
Great blog post Kelli. I enjoyed reading your entry. I agree that there is a lot of potential for implementing blogs into education. That said,since blogs are out there for the whole world to see as you mention, do you feel this could be a problem in some learning venues? I find that I am wrestling with myself over this issue. Blogging provides opportunity for those less vocal, yet does this option open up the potential for anyone to extract from the learning situation? Could someone use this as a means to obtain knowledge without being part of a class? Interested in your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteKing, K.P. & Cox, T.D. (2011). The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age.
Carolyn,
DeleteI completely understand what you are saying that allowing the whole world to see someone's blog could be a problem. If someone is concerned about their privacy, I suggest that they either using a screen name or a fictious name for their blog. Also you mentioned that individuals can "obtain knowledge without being part of a class". My response to that is don't individuals read books, magazines, newspapers and watch television to gain knowledge (Grill, 2002). I believe that if an individual is reading a knowledge based blog, like the one we created for EDACE 765, then individuals should have free access to that knowledge. The individuals are not getting school credit since they are not enrolled in the class, rather they are expanding their knowledge and learning something different, which I believe is a great thing. Who doesn't want people to become more educated? I'm all for the education and empowerment of the public.
Grill, J. (2002, September 19). Adult learning. Retrieved from Adult Education website: http://www.fsu.edu/~adult-ed/jenny/learning.html
Well said, Kelli!
Delete