The Big Blog!

A blog is a great way to express and share your knowledge and opinions in any subject. Downes (2004 online) states many ways in which a blog can be used from a personal interest to a classroom discussion. A blog can be set up by a tutor to inform the learner of up and coming classes, suggested readings and summaries of readings.

Blogs can also be used as part of a summative assessment, and in this way be a good indicator of gained knowledge. One issue with this, highlighted by Reece and Walker (2007 p.g.191) is that due to the ease of use, blogs can be created by anyone, therefore questioning the authenticity of the content. Similar to this, the Staff and Departmental Unit of Leeds University (SDDU 2006 Online) state that because the blog is controlled entirely by the author, colleges and teachers have no control over how explicit, challenging or offensive the content of a student or teacher blogs is. This would be my main concern with using student blogs as part of measuring knowledge gained. The reason for this is the learners in my care are quite prone to using inappropriate language and enjoy being ‘the class clown’. Therefore they may use this as an opportunity to write an anonymous, offensive comment on a teacher/ student blog and may find it rather amusing. On the other hand, using blogs for students of a higher level who have a large interest in the topic they are studying, may find it useful for exchanging ideas.

Downes, S., 2004, "Educational Blogging", Educause Review, vol. 39, no. 5, pp 14–26 (http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0450.asp viewed 26th Feb. 2007).

Reece, I. & Walker, S. (2007) Teaching , Training and Learning : A Practical Guide. 6th Edition. Sunderland: Business Education

SDDU, 2006, “what is a Blog’’ [online] Available: http://www.sddu.leeds.ac.uk/online_resources/blogging/risks.htm [16th January 2009]