Blogging for Teaching and Learning
Ismael K. Isikel
Matheson Library
PNG University of Technology
19/03/2015
This presentation was delivered on 19/03/2015 in room 209 at the CDS Department. Initially i posted a draft. I have edited that draft and the result is this post.
This presentation was delivered on 19/03/2015 in room 209 at the CDS Department. Initially i posted a draft. I have edited that draft and the result is this post.
Here i explain blogging as simply as possible by starting with a few definitions and discuss what you can share in a blog with students and others. Next a number of simple steps are outlined that you may follow in order to create your own blog and start posting.
Blog
Blogging
a. Micro blogging
When you are writing or posting a picture you are blogging. Those who use Twitter or Facebook are micro bloggers.
b. Macro blogging
If you have your own blog and write regularly or irregularly, you do macro blogging ( bigger posts).
a. Optional Method
Blogging is an option that is available to the academic or teacher for teaching and learning interactions with students during the semester.
b. What to post.
You can post lecture notes, additional notes, links to other relevant information sources in addition to the textbook. It may not be secure to conduct assessment such as tests and exams using a blog. Google Classroom takes care of that.General notices to students in your class may be posted as well on your blog. Sometimes a day or two of lectures are missed during the semester for various reasons including emergency. The instructor may use the blog by posting the lecture notes with questions that the students may read and complete.The students may communicate back using the blog or later by face to face during class. Tutorial questions and exercises may be posted and students can use their laptops during tutorial hours to read the questions online and answer orally or discuss..
c. Advantages
c.1. Breaking down cultural barrier
General observations by both expatriate and national staff show that many students are reluctant to use their laptops in class. The reason is not clear, but it is likely to be cultural and may be pertinent to PNG only.Therefore this will encourage students to use laptops in class and help to break down this cultural barrier to learning.
c.2. Saves time
A blog will help to save time for students walking to the Department's notice boards. Instead of walking to the notice boards students will be able to read the notices posted on a blog from their laptops or mobiles.
c.3. Participation in e-learning
Students and teachers will participate in e-learning adding variety to the traditional "chalk and talk".
d. Disadvantage
Integrity of document may be a concern. Integrity of document means that the document or illustration posted is not tempered with so that it alters its meaning or appearance.
a. Gmail
You will need your gmail account in order to create your blog. If you do not have a gmail account, you need to create a gmail account.
a. Choose blog hosting service
There are many blog hosting services, but i prefer Google since it is easier for me to follow. Another blog hosting service is WordPress. Choose whichever you prefer and create your blog. How do you do this? You may do this by typing the phrase create a blog on your browser and choose from the search results the one that offers you to create your blog. For example, shown below are two of my search result when i used create a blog to search for a blog hosting service. The second of the two is what i would choose in order to create my blog.
Two samples of search results
When you are writing or posting a picture you are blogging. Those who use Twitter or Facebook are micro bloggers.
b. Macro blogging
If you have your own blog and write regularly or irregularly, you do macro blogging ( bigger posts).
Blogging and academia
a. Optional Method
Blogging is an option that is available to the academic or teacher for teaching and learning interactions with students during the semester.
b. What to post.
You can post lecture notes, additional notes, links to other relevant information sources in addition to the textbook. It may not be secure to conduct assessment such as tests and exams using a blog. Google Classroom takes care of that.General notices to students in your class may be posted as well on your blog. Sometimes a day or two of lectures are missed during the semester for various reasons including emergency. The instructor may use the blog by posting the lecture notes with questions that the students may read and complete.The students may communicate back using the blog or later by face to face during class. Tutorial questions and exercises may be posted and students can use their laptops during tutorial hours to read the questions online and answer orally or discuss..
c. Advantages
c.1. Breaking down cultural barrier
General observations by both expatriate and national staff show that many students are reluctant to use their laptops in class. The reason is not clear, but it is likely to be cultural and may be pertinent to PNG only.Therefore this will encourage students to use laptops in class and help to break down this cultural barrier to learning.
c.2. Saves time
A blog will help to save time for students walking to the Department's notice boards. Instead of walking to the notice boards students will be able to read the notices posted on a blog from their laptops or mobiles.
c.3. Participation in e-learning
Students and teachers will participate in e-learning adding variety to the traditional "chalk and talk".
d. Disadvantage
Integrity of document may be a concern. Integrity of document means that the document or illustration posted is not tempered with so that it alters its meaning or appearance.
Creating a blog
a. Gmail
You will need your gmail account in order to create your blog. If you do not have a gmail account, you need to create a gmail account.
a. Choose blog hosting service
There are many blog hosting services, but i prefer Google since it is easier for me to follow. Another blog hosting service is WordPress. Choose whichever you prefer and create your blog. How do you do this? You may do this by typing the phrase create a blog on your browser and choose from the search results the one that offers you to create your blog. For example, shown below are two of my search result when i used create a blog to search for a blog hosting service. The second of the two is what i would choose in order to create my blog.
Two samples of search results
- WordPress.com: Create a free website or blog
- https://wordpress.com/
- WordPress.com is the easiest way to create a free website or blog. It's a powerful hosting platform that grows with you.• Easy to use WordPress.com lets you create beautiful and powerful websites or blogs. • Your own domain name ... • Search engine and SEO friendly
- Google - Blogger
- https://www.blogger.com/start
- Sign in to continue to Blogger. Email Password Stay signed in. For your convenience, keep this
... Create an account. One Google Account for everything Google.
Steps in using Google - Blogger to create your blog
1.A Blogger home page will appear if you click on http://www.blogger.com
2. Click on "Create your Blog Now" button to start
3. Create an account page will appear next asking you to:
After you have completed filling in the above, make sure you accept the Acceptance of terms. This indicates that you understand and accept Bloggers terms of service.
4. Click on Continue
5. Name your Blog page will appear and will ask you to:
6. Click on Continue after you have done the Word Verification.
7. "Choose a template" page will appear and you have the option to choose from several including Simple. This is simply deciding how your blog will look like.
8. After you have decided and chosen the template click on Continue.
9. "Your blog has been created" page will appear with a prompt "Start Posting"
10. If you click on "Start Posting" your Blogger dashboard will appear.
1.A Blogger home page will appear if you click on http://www.blogger.com
2. Click on "Create your Blog Now" button to start
3. Create an account page will appear next asking you to:
- choose a user name
- enter a password
- retype password
- display name
- email address
- Acceptance of terms
After you have completed filling in the above, make sure you accept the Acceptance of terms. This indicates that you understand and accept Bloggers terms of service.
4. Click on Continue
5. Name your Blog page will appear and will ask you to:
- give your blog a title
- give your blog a url (web address)
- do the Word Verification
6. Click on Continue after you have done the Word Verification.
7. "Choose a template" page will appear and you have the option to choose from several including Simple. This is simply deciding how your blog will look like.
8. After you have decided and chosen the template click on Continue.
9. "Your blog has been created" page will appear with a prompt "Start Posting"
10. If you click on "Start Posting" your Blogger dashboard will appear.
Posting & Editing
Your Blogger Dashboard allows you to post documents and pictures. Do not forget to give your post a title. This is easy because there is a prompt slot at the top of the menu. It requires you to write the title of your post in the slot. After you have completed your writing you can then preview by clicking on Preview to see if you are satisfied with its appearance.Click on Publish if you are satisfied. If you have not completed writing and would like to complete at a later time, click on Close and your document will be saved as Draft. Later you may complete and publish.
The features of a blog and posts on a blog can be edited by the blogger.
Share a post
There is a share menu at the bottom of the post that allows the blogger to share posts to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or by Email.
Security
Use other Web 2 application to store
original documents, e.g., Dropbox, My Drive.
