Blogging in Learning--Module 1

Blogs are technology tools that promote community, collaboration, and supportive learning environments (Kuo et al., 2017). Blogs are emerging as one of the online discussion technologies that increase opportunities for collaboration and learning for students (Kadir & Tasir, 2020). Blogs can be used to have students collaborate with peers in a similar fashion to discussions in a traditional learning environment resulting in similar benefits of increasing collaboration, communication, social and reflective skills (Kadir & Tasir, 2020). As a reflective tool, students could maintain a blog where their thoughts and learning can be expressed throughout the course.  

Blogging can connect students across a variety of platforms, media, and geographic locations.  Collaboration and sense of community supports the social constructivist environment where students support each other and work together.  Adult learners can use blogs to create a meaningful learning environment, opportunity for self-direction, practical experience (Kuo et al., 2017). Instructors could have students maintain interactive blogs where students can comment on each other's work or communicate about common issues within a field or class.  

Instructors can also use student blogs to create student-centered learning experiences (Kadir & Tasir, 2020).  By tracking students' learning, thoughts, and wonders, instructors can create learning experiences that will benefit the learners while reaching the learning goals and outcomes.  

References

Abdul Kadir, N. I., & Tasir, Z. (2020). Students’ perceptions and information-sharing patterns in learning authoring system course through blogging. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(19), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i19.10950

Kuo, Y.-C., Belland, B. R., & Kuo, Y.-T. (2017). Learning through blogging: students’ perspectives in collaborative blog enhanced learning communities. Educational Technology & Society, 20 (2), 37–50.