Blogging:Using Web Logs for Educational Purposes

Instructional Design ConferenceNovember 19, 2004

Presented by Alec Couros

IntroductionWhat are web logs?

How does one publish a weblog?

Overview of Blogging

• A blog is a website made up of short, frequently updated posts (ideally) that are arranged in reverse chronological order.

• Advantages of weblogging (for user):– Simple assisted html production– No web development or design tools– No FTP server needed– No server permissions– Live, web-based interface for instant

publication– EASY as sending email– Simple syndication

Overview of Blogging (cont.)

• Blogging has evolved from its early origin as a medium for the publication of simple, online personal diaries, to the latest disruptive technology, the ‘killer app’ that has the capacity to engage people in collaborative activity, knowledge sharing, reflection and debate (Hiler, 2003).

• The nature of blogging engines allows for the creation of a legitimate warehousing of captured knowledge, and archiving for later retrieval (Bausch, Haughley & Hourihan, 2002).

• The literature (around blogs) seems to be concentrated in the areas where either the use of reflective journals as a learning tool is custom and practice (favorable disposition toward the tool) or areas in which knowledge management is stressed. (Stiler & Phileo, 2003; Wagner, 2003; Oravec 2002).

Process of Benefits of Blogging

Process:Read

SynthesizeWrite and Link

PublishRead Some More

Promotes:Conversation

Individual VoiceInformation Literacy

Critical ReadingCritical Thinking

From Will Richardson, Blogging Presentation - http://www.weblogg-ed.com/

Anatomy of a Web Log – Moveable Type 3

Post Title

Link of Interest

Static Address

Feedback/ Conversation

Notification Post Date

Calendar

Archives

Blogging Software/Services

• There are various tools that allow one to publish a blog. These are often split between software and web-based services.

• Web-based services

• Software

Blogger- Web-based, owned by Google- Very simple to setup (takes a few minutes)- Easy to setup group blogs, but users must beBlogger.com members- Limited customization (just styles)- Possible to serve Blogger blogs on externalFTP servers

Moveable Type- Software – created and supported by Six Apart- Must install on server, but easy to setup- User interface simple- Easy to create group blogs- Large user community- Used to be free to use, but version 3+ must belicensed (outside of personal use).- Much easier to customize to specific use

WordPress- Open Source – free to use and modify- Must install on server, but easy to setup- User interface simple- Easy to create group blogs- Large user community, and many plug-ins available- Easy to customize style

The Dawn of the BlogOrigins of personal, dynamic publishing.

In the larger context: The open movement.

• Open Source Software: Linux (alternative to MS Windows), Open Office (alternative to MS Office), the GIMP (alternative to Adobe Photoshop)

• Open Content– CourseWare and Learning Object repositories: MIT’s

OpenCourseWare Initiative, CAREO, MERLOT, CLOE, DLORN.

– Wikis: Wikipedia, Wikitravel, Wikibooks.– Texts: California Open Textbook Project,

• Free “As in Beer” Content– Journals: Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)– Literature: Project Gutenberg

• Open Publishing– IndyMedias: Independent Media Centre, TearItAllDown– Blogging Services: Blogger, LiveJournal– Other: Student Publishing

Opposing Forces

Open vs. ClosedBroadcast vs. Conversation

Institution vs. Individual

Hierarchy vs. Network

Centralized vs. Decentralized

Product vs. Remix

Planned vs. ChaoticStatic vs. Dynamic

Push vs. PullFrom Steven Downes Utah Presentation, 2004

Virtual Counterparts

Internet vs. Television

Fax Machine vs. Courier Services

Skype vs. the Telephone

Blogging vs. Newspapers

Email vs. Snail Mail

Technology... the knack of so arranging the world that we don't have to experience it. ~Max Frisch

From Steven Downes Utah Presentation, 2004

BlogCount

From Elise.com

Technorati reports over 4 million blogs-Web-based Blogger is currently the most widely-used service

Blogging as a Social Act

• A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger."

• Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.

• Distinction: Publishing a blog vs. the “social act of blogging”.

• Habermas: Blogging may represent a communicative action into the sphere of intersubjectivity known as the "life-world" (the sphere where everyday practices are interpreted, negotiated, given social significance, and where human meaning is both made and made use of by thinking and acting subjectivities). This communicative act, for Habermas, represented a way out of the oppression and monopolization.

Types of BlogsDiaries

BusinessPolitics

ScholarlyCourse Enhancement

ConferenceCollaborative Learning Space

Knowledge Management~

Photo/MoblogsPodCasts

Diaries

Diaries

Diaries

Business

Business

Business

Politics

Scholarly

Scholarly

Scholarly

Course Enhancement

Course Enhancement

Conference

Conference

Conference

Knowledge Management (K-Logs)

Knowledge Management (K-Logs)

PhotoBlogs

moBlogs

Podcasts

Podcasts

REAL Implications

• Student Publishing and Perceptions: “Why should I hand in my assignments to you, when I can publish to the masses”. (Grade 5 Student, Edmonton Alberta).

• The concept and realizations of “the invisible college”. What are the implications?

• Promotes careful wide-reading, synthesis and critique.

• Promotes careful management of knowledge both personally, and socially.

• Greater access to knowledge (not publicly funded knowledge tied up in commercial, subscription-based journals), and freedom to edit and distribute.

• Example: Lessig’s “Free Culture”

Blogging in Education

• Secret Life of Bees (Novel Study)- Student site- Parallel parent site

• Teacher Mentoring/Supervision - http://www.edithere.com/eyt/

"Through the use of our Weblog we've been able to build a relationship, engage in reflective practice, have interactive opportunities that develop and broaden our knowledge base, and document evidence of growth and refinement in the practice”

• Web-logged- Resource for blogging and RSS in education- http://www.weblogg-ed.com/

• Using Wikis and Blogs in the Classroom- http://edtech.coedit.net/WikisInTheClassroom

• Book about Blogs (Blook)- http://www.gsu.edu/%7Ecoeapd/abc/index.html

• *** RML (Rip, Mix, Learn) - using Blogdigger- http://edu-blogger.blogspot.com/2004/10/rip-mix-and-learn-new-way-of-

learning.html

Key Understanding: RSS

• Weblogs may not appear to be technically different than a standard webpage, however a key difference is the use of a technology called RSS.

• RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows readers to subscribe to weblogs through a news reader.

• Some free newsreaders include– FeedReader (PC Software)– NetNewsWire Lite (Mac Software)– Bloglines (Web-based News Reader)– Show Demo (Shrook for Mac)

• Other tools– Feed2JS– Blogdigger– Feedburner

Issues

• Blogging a different dissemination model than writing refereed papers.

• Official university communication vs. faculty point-of-view.

• Blogging in relation to faculty tenure and promotion.

• Comment spam - an increasing problem.

ResourcesWhere to get started with the open movement

and educational blogging.

Starting Places

• Couros Blog– http://www.educationaltechnology.ca/couros

• Wordpress site– http://www.wordpress.org

• Article “Inside the Ivory Tower” - Blogging in Higher Ed.– http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1310111,00.html

• Article “Educational Blogging” - Stephen Downes– http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0450.asp

• Scholars Who Blog– http://alex.halavais.net/files/ScholarsWhoBlog

• PodCasts: The New Twist on Net Audio– http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,65237,00.html

• Blog Research (many articles)– http://blogresearch.com/ref.htm

• Many more weblog related articles– http://elmine.wijnia.com/weblog/references.html

• Stephen Downes’ Page– http://www.downes.ca/

Contact

This presentation can be downloaded at: http://www.educationaltechnology.ca/couros

click ‘Presentations’, then ‘Recent’,

Please contact me - email: alec.couros@uregina.ca,or Google me: keyword, ‘couros’

Thank you for your time and attention.