Blogging Pros and Cons in Adult Learning
Is blogging the same as discussion board activity?
Blogging and discussion boards have several similarities. Both are online tools that can be used to discussion information. Also, blogs and discussion boards can be used for collaborative learning. A difference blogs are a public venue where the world can read posts. Whereas the discussion board is on Canvas, a learning management system online, which is password protected so only classmates can see discussion board comments and allows students opportunities to complete their homework at their leisure.
PROS of Blogging
There are several advantages of blogging in adult education. A blog is a free-web based tool which is easily accessible. Blogging provides an adult learner with opportunities to further refine writing skills, critical thinking and ability to implement technology. Also, a blog is a student-focused learning environment which fosters peer interactions (Kuo, Belland, & Kuo, 2017). As an adult learner is blogging through sharing reactions and comments promoting collaboration (King & Cox, 2011, p. 90). Blogs encourage adult learners to engage in critical thinking and reflection skills when responding to posts on their blog (Deng & Allan, 2009). Blogs are time stamped and dated which makes it easy to find blogs that have been posted in a chronological order. Blogging provides the adult learner with a forum to publicly address topics using technology throughout their blogs such as hyperlinks, videos, media, and other resources.
The Engagement theory allows the adult learner to implement blogging through (Relate-Create-Donate) the students are able to post their ideas and further develop and emphasize the importance of learning process (Santos, 2011, pp.16-17).
CONS of Blogging
There are several blogging disadvantages in adult learning. Plagarism and copyright issues can lead to legal and ethical issues (Oravec, 2002, p. 618). Another disadvantage of blogging is links are continually changing which means doing site maintenance is essential so there are no "dead" links that do not work (Oravec, 2002). Additionally, privacy issues focusing on the person who is crafting the blog and the target audience reading the blog (Oravec, 2002; Deng& Allan, 2009). The final challenge adult learners face is developing their voice and skills through blogging (Deng & Allan, 2009, p. 97). As an educator, it can be a challenge to create a safe environment for adult learners to practice blogging due to learners being at different skill levels.
Using discussion boards and blogs both provide opportunities for the adult learner to continue developing their reflective critical thinking skills through collaboration. The discussion board provides a safe technology environment which is password protected for the adult learner to engage in. Blogging the author needs to have an awareness of their audience, the Internet and everyone who uses it, so there is no safeguard, and all the user's blogs are shared online.
References
Deng, L. & Yuen, A.H. K. (2009). Blogs in higher education: Implementation and issues. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 53(3), 95-98. Retrived from http://search.proquest.com.er.lib.k-state.edu/docview/61873701?account=11789
Hall, L.A. (2015, October 16). Blogging for Teachers-why and how to start an educational blog. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2HwMrc-0aE
King, K. P. & Cox,T.D. (2011). The professor's guide to taming technology: Leaveraging digital media, web 2.0, and more for learning. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Kuo, Y. Belland, B. R., & Kuo, Y. (2017). Learning through blogging: Student's perspectives in collaborative blog-enhanced learning communities. Educational Technolog & Society, 20(2), 37-50. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.Learning through blogging: Student's perspectives in collaborative blog-enhanced learning communities
Oravec, J.A. (2002). Bookmaking the world: Weblog applications in education. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(7), 616-621.
Santos, A.N. E. (2011). Blogs as a learning space: Creating text of talks. Contemporary Issues In Education Research, 4(6), 15-19.
Blogging and discussion boards have several similarities. Both are online tools that can be used to discussion information. Also, blogs and discussion boards can be used for collaborative learning. A difference blogs are a public venue where the world can read posts. Whereas the discussion board is on Canvas, a learning management system online, which is password protected so only classmates can see discussion board comments and allows students opportunities to complete their homework at their leisure.
PROS of Blogging
There are several advantages of blogging in adult education. A blog is a free-web based tool which is easily accessible. Blogging provides an adult learner with opportunities to further refine writing skills, critical thinking and ability to implement technology. Also, a blog is a student-focused learning environment which fosters peer interactions (Kuo, Belland, & Kuo, 2017). As an adult learner is blogging through sharing reactions and comments promoting collaboration (King & Cox, 2011, p. 90). Blogs encourage adult learners to engage in critical thinking and reflection skills when responding to posts on their blog (Deng & Allan, 2009). Blogs are time stamped and dated which makes it easy to find blogs that have been posted in a chronological order. Blogging provides the adult learner with a forum to publicly address topics using technology throughout their blogs such as hyperlinks, videos, media, and other resources.
The Engagement theory allows the adult learner to implement blogging through (Relate-Create-Donate) the students are able to post their ideas and further develop and emphasize the importance of learning process (Santos, 2011, pp.16-17).
CONS of Blogging
There are several blogging disadvantages in adult learning. Plagarism and copyright issues can lead to legal and ethical issues (Oravec, 2002, p. 618). Another disadvantage of blogging is links are continually changing which means doing site maintenance is essential so there are no "dead" links that do not work (Oravec, 2002). Additionally, privacy issues focusing on the person who is crafting the blog and the target audience reading the blog (Oravec, 2002; Deng& Allan, 2009). The final challenge adult learners face is developing their voice and skills through blogging (Deng & Allan, 2009, p. 97). As an educator, it can be a challenge to create a safe environment for adult learners to practice blogging due to learners being at different skill levels.
Using discussion boards and blogs both provide opportunities for the adult learner to continue developing their reflective critical thinking skills through collaboration. The discussion board provides a safe technology environment which is password protected for the adult learner to engage in. Blogging the author needs to have an awareness of their audience, the Internet and everyone who uses it, so there is no safeguard, and all the user's blogs are shared online.
Which technology tool do you feel more comfortable with a blog or discussion board?
Would you be willing to go outside your comfort zone to further explore your horizons in technology?References
Deng, L. & Yuen, A.H. K. (2009). Blogs in higher education: Implementation and issues. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 53(3), 95-98. Retrived from http://search.proquest.com.er.lib.k-state.edu/docview/61873701?account=11789
Hall, L.A. (2015, October 16). Blogging for Teachers-why and how to start an educational blog. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2HwMrc-0aE
King, K. P. & Cox,T.D. (2011). The professor's guide to taming technology: Leaveraging digital media, web 2.0, and more for learning. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Kuo, Y. Belland, B. R., & Kuo, Y. (2017). Learning through blogging: Student's perspectives in collaborative blog-enhanced learning communities. Educational Technolog & Society, 20(2), 37-50. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.Learning through blogging: Student's perspectives in collaborative blog-enhanced learning communities
Oravec, J.A. (2002). Bookmaking the world: Weblog applications in education. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(7), 616-621.
Santos, A.N. E. (2011). Blogs as a learning space: Creating text of talks. Contemporary Issues In Education Research, 4(6), 15-19.
I think you hit on a key point when you said that discussion boards provide a safe technology environment. I too believe privacy is a key difference between discussion boards and blogging. I like the concept of blogging though, through its very nature it gives a bigger audience and the potential for more insights outside of the education world. Through pseudonyms and the ability to share as much or as little as you want in your profile, a certain degree of privacy is still kept. The one other caution I find is that you have to check the quality of the comments that attach to your blogs to ensure information associated with what you are trying to convey is accurate. With a blog being public, the comments can be random.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the insights and the additional reflection.
Vee,
ReplyDeleteI agree privacy is a huge difference between discussion boards and blogging. This is my first experience exploring blogging in technology, so I am excited to further explore blogging through using pseudonyms and I agree that way one can decide how much they want to contribute to the conversation. As an instructor which technology tool would you feel more comfortable to implement a discussion board or a blog? Or would it depend on the topic you are teaching?
Colleen,
DeleteI think I would feel comfortable using a blog with adult learners. Adults are old enough to know how much they would like to share of themselves. I would always allow pseudonyms for those who wish to remain anonymous. Personal stories are not always required for a blogging exercise, researched articles can be used to support points or scenarios presented as hypothetical with research to back them up. As for the topic, I think because of the search-ability of blogs, the fears of students, positive topics are best for public discussions.
Vee,
DeleteGreat response! I think I need to give myself some more time to get comfortable with blogging, before I would try to use it with a class of adult learners. However, if I did utilize this educational tool, I would start the class out in a safe environment that is password protected and then move into a “live” blog environment. This would allow the learners to use pseudonyms as you mentioned and share as much or as little as they want on their blogs.
Personally, I feel more comfortable with a discussion board because I like the more private and more streamlined setting (everyone responding to the same content), but as I look around to see the draw of the blog, I found some interesting insight. Silversides (2012) writes of nursing blogs and how those blogs can help relate more of the emotional side of the profession that may not get to be expressed within the workplace. Additionally, blogs can present a bit of informal education, as one can read about other branches of the profession and their inner-workings without having to actually experience those things in a live setting.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, while I prefer the discussion board, I can see that blogging can provide a more long-term supportive role that would allow me to continue my learning beyond the class dates while also providing some emotional release and fellowship among others in similar situations.
Silversides, A. (2012). Blogging the nursing life. Canadian Nurse, January 2012. https://www.canadian-nurse.com/articles/issues/2012/january-2012/blogging-the-nursing-life
Ksu1msm,
DeleteI agree right now I am more comfortable using a discussion board due to the private setting. As you mentioned, there are benefits to implementing blogging in the education setting such as a place for informal learning to take place. As I continue on this journey of exploring through blogging and learning how I can use this technology tool to further my education. I agree with Vee, using a pseudonym allows the blogger to maintain their anonymity.
Nice facilitation of conversation Colleen!
ReplyDeleteWhich technology tool do you feel more comfortable with a blog or discussion board?
I will have to say at this point, discussion board, even though I appreciate that the blog space can feel more individualized and allow for more informal approaches. The discussion board feels safe to me, and we all like to feel safe.
Would you be willing to go outside your comfort zone to further explore your horizons in technology?
I suppose yes, as I am currently doing so at the moment :) I always like learning new things, but a lot of it I do by trial and error by myself, so if I fail no one is around to see it :)
Great post by the way!
Thanks JaiMenon,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you honestly answering the questions. I know right now I still prefer to learn in a discussion board environment. However, I am willing to take an opportunity to further explore technology and the benefits blogging has for the adult learner. Additionally, I have learned a lot through the trial and error process!