Pedagogical use of blogs
What for?
Blogs can be used effectively to support instruction or learning. Blog is sort of like a website, where one can produce content, such as text, images and video. It can be open or closed from public. Depending on the service provider, it can be free to use or it can be charged. Some service providers have free platforms as well as paid ones, where usually the customer receives extra services.
With blog one can differentiate learning for students. Students can build a Personal Learning Environment, where they can study and reflect their learning. A blog can also be very social learning, as students can learn greatly from each other, immersing into each others' publishings and commenting on them. It can also be produced together with others.
If a student produces the blog throughout the studies, it can be a great presentation of their expertise and perhaps facilitate employment!
How to get it?
For instance Blogger is one good tool, and there is a digipedatip just for Blogger in the archive.
How did I use it?
I have used it:
as a Learning diary.
My students used it as their personal learning Environment, where they reflected on their learning according to the tasks given by their teachers. They were also instructed to read each other's blogs and comment on the content.
As an example, I was a Personal Study Advisor for my International students, and I asked them to keep a Photo diary in their blog during their first autumn in Oulu. I gave them tasks mostly related to their studies, but many of them ended up posting about their new life in Oulu additionally, which was very nice!
Additionally, I'd like to remind you that student blogs can be used for marketing as well, linking them to your unit's website or social media channels.
As a communication channel.
When I was working as a Personal study Advisor, I wrote a weekly blog, which I published every Friday. In the blog I went through the essentials of next week in their studies. Sometimes I would also share something a bit less formal, for instance this week I would probably post about next week's Independence Day, perhaps informing them that most shops and government services will be closed and providing a few links for the students to see how Finns celebrate etc.
Who gave the tip?
Aino-Maaria