Monday 6 October 2008

Blogs in HE

A blog is, in essence, an online journal.

Implicit in the structure of a blog is an ownership model whereby a primary author creates content (e.g. expresses an opinion) which is then commented upon by others. Interaction takes the form of commentary produced by the online audience relating to primary content.

Here's a summary of the main features of a blog:
  • individual dated entries comprised of text and images, hyperlinks to external websites and other media;
  • reverse chronological arrangement of entries that places the most recent entry at the top of the page;
  • easy-to-use interface that allows users to upload and edit entries through their web browser;
  • secondary content made possible through a comments box after each entry allowing others to respond to primary content;
  • search function;
  • ability to 'tag' blog posts;
  • automatic archiving of entries according to month and year;
Finally, some useful articles:

Bristow, R. (2005). Beyond email: wikis, blogs and other strange beasts. Ariadne, 42 http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue42/beyond-email-rpt/intro.html

Dickey, M. D. (2004) The impact of web-logs (blogs) on student perceptions of isolation and alienation in a web-based distance-learning environment. Open Learning, 19(3) 279-292

Nückles, M. et al. (2004). The use of public learning diaries in blended learning. Journal of Educational Media, 29 (1), 49-66

Weller, M. et al. (2005).Use of innovative technologies on an e-learning course. Internet and Higher Education, 8, 61–71

Williams, J. B. and Jacobs, J. (2004). Exploring the use of blogs as learning spaces in the higher education sector. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 20(2), 232-247. http://www.jeremybwilliams.net/AJETpaper.pdf

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