Has anyone else noticed that there seem to be types of posts? Some are critical, others provide summaries, others helpful links. I find that most of mine are critical. For planning for such a class (one that uses blogs in an academic setting) would it be advisable to require the students to post several of each type, or should entirely free rein be given? Just wondering what opinions are out there, as a blog would be helpful in many different classroom situations.
I often find your posts quite helpful in testing the limits of the articles I assign, but I also find posts that link to material outside of class discussion quite helpful.
In my uses of blogging in freshman composition classes, I’ll often require students to create certain kinds of posts, including a post early on requiring students to create links to another blog so that they can get in the habit of linking. Or I’ll require that students find a pertinent article they think would be interesting for class discussion. I may do that later in the semester so that you all can have a little more control over the material covered in the course.
But this is an interesting question, and I’d like the hear the opinions of others in the class (or others who just happen to be passing by).
Comment by chutry — February 25, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Because blogging is such a new thing for me, I find all the different types of posts helpful. I also agree that the posts with links outside the classroom are helpful. Sometimes when people are being so critical it’s hard for others to get the point intended, but the summaries and helpful links are always a source to try to interpret meanings of readings. I think having the freedom to respond as you see fit is necessary to get extensive feedback. Personally, I try to do a little of everything, it just depends on what I read, what information I find or how I feel about the material.
Comment by natb07 — February 27, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
I like the freedom of choice afforded to students. The main thrust of blogging may be to get students to brainstorm and to simply “write” about their thoughts without restraints placed on them. Perhaps in an academic setting when students feel more comfortable with writing for a variety of audiences on on subjects that they are interested in, then that would be a good time in my opinion to require specific types of blogs. However, students could learn to categorize examples of blogs taken from blog resources and learn the different types of blogs. They may be more apt to use particular types of blogs once they can identify them for themselves.
Comment by spiders8 — April 17, 2007 @ 12:15 am