Comments on: Using the Web to help Students Develop Paper Topics http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2007/using-the-web-to-help-students-develop-paper-topics/ Thoughts on Technology and Higher Education Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:36:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jandy’s Meanderings » Using blogs in school http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2007/using-the-web-to-help-students-develop-paper-topics/comment-page-1/#comment-5705 Jandy’s Meanderings » Using blogs in school Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:25:04 +0000 http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/?p=158#comment-5705 [...] I think this is a great idea. Dave at academhack lays out the way he’s using a blog to help students refine their paper topics through peer discussion. That’s only one of the applications blogs could have for a classroom, though. He briefly mentions posting syllabi, assignments, updates, links, etc. True, there is software in schools that do some of this stuff–we use Blackboard, and he also mentions one called WebCT, which I don’t know about, but let me tell you something. Blackboard is crap, man. I hate it. It’s not intuitive (is the syllabus under “assignments” or “class documents”? What about assigned readings?), only the teacher can update it (with things like the link I e-mailed my teacher upon her request a month ago and still isn’t up), it’s fugly, and it’s just…very institutional. I know, I know, part of my resistance to Blackboard is my innate rebellion against whatever the school (or business, or whatever) provides, but part of it is also that it’s crap. [...] [...] I think this is a great idea. Dave at academhack lays out the way he’s using a blog to help students refine their paper topics through peer discussion. That’s only one of the applications blogs could have for a classroom, though. He briefly mentions posting syllabi, assignments, updates, links, etc. True, there is software in schools that do some of this stuff–we use Blackboard, and he also mentions one called WebCT, which I don’t know about, but let me tell you something. Blackboard is crap, man. I hate it. It’s not intuitive (is the syllabus under “assignments” or “class documents”? What about assigned readings?), only the teacher can update it (with things like the link I e-mailed my teacher upon her request a month ago and still isn’t up), it’s fugly, and it’s just…very institutional. I know, I know, part of my resistance to Blackboard is my innate rebellion against whatever the school (or business, or whatever) provides, but part of it is also that it’s crap. [...]

]]> By: Developing Paper Topics by Using a Blog « The Worcester Academy History Department http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2007/using-the-web-to-help-students-develop-paper-topics/comment-page-1/#comment-5439 Developing Paper Topics by Using a Blog « The Worcester Academy History Department Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:20:23 +0000 http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/?p=158#comment-5439 [...] Developing Paper Topics by Using a Blog Published March 20th, 2007 Education and Technology I was reading a blog that I subscribe to and I thought the following entry was extremely relevant.   It discusses the use of blogs in assisting students in creating paper topics. Through peer review on blogs students have the potential to assist each other in defining a well crafted topic.  This is a simple way to introduce technology into the classroom as well as create a dialog between the students.  This method can produce better topics as well as a better understanding of how to formulate a stronger topic.   Hope everyone is enjoying their break. [...] [...] Developing Paper Topics by Using a Blog Published March 20th, 2007 Education and Technology I was reading a blog that I subscribe to and I thought the following entry was extremely relevant.   It discusses the use of blogs in assisting students in creating paper topics. Through peer review on blogs students have the potential to assist each other in defining a well crafted topic.  This is a simple way to introduce technology into the classroom as well as create a dialog between the students.  This method can produce better topics as well as a better understanding of how to formulate a stronger topic.   Hope everyone is enjoying their break. [...]

]]> By: dave http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2007/using-the-web-to-help-students-develop-paper-topics/comment-page-1/#comment-5394 dave Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:14:16 +0000 http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/?p=158#comment-5394 I would say that students are more used to blogs then they are to WebCT or Blackboard. Blogs they use far before they get to college, WebCT/Blackboard is only useful when they are in school. And as far as time consuming goes, I guarantee I can update information faster to a blog then one can via Blackboard. It is a learning curve for faculty, although a really short one. And the key here is you are then independent from a course management system. You can take the content with you, and you can operate at an institution without Blackboard or WebCT. Finally, students are far more involved in my experience when you use a blog, then when you use WebCT. Why? Lots of reasons which I can't develop here, but mainly that a blog is more familiar and easier. As far as the email issue goes, two things: 1. Why email students when you can update the blog? want to cancel class for snow, update the blog. Want to change an assignment, update the blog. 2. WebCT runs by loading in the campus email addresses from the system, so if they don't check that email you loose that functionality. And you have to rely on WebCT to email the students. If you really want email lists there are better ways to accomplish this. Check the email tag on this blog for that. I would say that any professor who is using basic WebCT functions, email, discussion, calendar, syllabus, if better served by open source public Web 2.0 software. Have them try blogs for one semester, I doubt they will switch back. I will do a series this summer though for those contemplating the switch. I would say that students are more used to blogs then they are to WebCT or Blackboard. Blogs they use far before they get to college, WebCT/Blackboard is only useful when they are in school. And as far as time consuming goes, I guarantee I can update information faster to a blog then one can via Blackboard. It is a learning curve for faculty, although a really short one. And the key here is you are then independent from a course management system. You can take the content with you, and you can operate at an institution without Blackboard or WebCT. Finally, students are far more involved in my experience when you use a blog, then when you use WebCT. Why? Lots of reasons which I can’t develop here, but mainly that a blog is more familiar and easier.

As far as the email issue goes, two things: 1. Why email students when you can update the blog? want to cancel class for snow, update the blog. Want to change an assignment, update the blog. 2. WebCT runs by loading in the campus email addresses from the system, so if they don’t check that email you loose that functionality. And you have to rely on WebCT to email the students. If you really want email lists there are better ways to accomplish this. Check the email tag on this blog for that.

I would say that any professor who is using basic WebCT functions, email, discussion, calendar, syllabus, if better served by open source public Web 2.0 software. Have them try blogs for one semester, I doubt they will switch back.

I will do a series this summer though for those contemplating the switch.

]]> By: Alexandra http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2007/using-the-web-to-help-students-develop-paper-topics/comment-page-1/#comment-5391 Alexandra Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:48:19 +0000 http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/?p=158#comment-5391 Hi there, I've recently wondered about that in my blog (http://peregrina.wordpress.com/2007/02/17/using-a-blog-as-a-course-website/) and the consensus among my more experienced friends was that it would be time-consuming (I don't think so) and more confusing to students, who would be more familiar with the templates (blackboard or webct) provided by the university. They prefer the administrative side of those platforms since it allows for emailing the whole class, having lists of students automatically in, etc... But I think a blog would be a better interface. For one thing, it would allow tagging and better searching of topics previously discussed. I'm not sure I'm idealizing students thinking they might find these features useful... Hi there,

I’ve recently wondered about that in my blog (http://peregrina.wordpress.com/2007/02/17/using-a-blog-as-a-course-website/) and the consensus among my more experienced friends was that it would be time-consuming (I don’t think so) and more confusing to students, who would be more familiar with the templates (blackboard or webct) provided by the university. They prefer the administrative side of those platforms since it allows for emailing the whole class, having lists of students automatically in, etc…

But I think a blog would be a better interface. For one thing, it would allow tagging and better searching of topics previously discussed. I’m not sure I’m idealizing students thinking they might find these features useful…

]]> By: Using a blog as a course website, pt 2 « peregrina historiae http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2007/using-the-web-to-help-students-develop-paper-topics/comment-page-1/#comment-5390 Using a blog as a course website, pt 2 « peregrina historiae Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:37:12 +0000 http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/?p=158#comment-5390 [...] Monday, March 19th, 2007 in General interest, digital media Hmmm, seems I’m not the only one to think it could be useful. Check this out. [...] [...] Monday, March 19th, 2007 in General interest, digital media Hmmm, seems I’m not the only one to think it could be useful. Check this out. [...]

]]> By: Playing with Lego » Blogs: help generate paper topics http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2007/using-the-web-to-help-students-develop-paper-topics/comment-page-1/#comment-5389 Playing with Lego » Blogs: help generate paper topics Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:24:25 +0000 http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/?p=158#comment-5389 [...] AcademHack has written an eloquent posting on how and why he uses blogs to help students choose their paper topics. [...] [...] AcademHack has written an eloquent posting on how and why he uses blogs to help students choose their paper topics. [...]

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