Blogging for Blogging for Success Success

Can interactive Can interactive collegiate collegiate blogging blogging alleviate alleviate

loneliness in loneliness in distance distance

learning? learning?

What is Blogging? What is Blogging?

+ =

“a frequently updated web site consisting of dated entries arranged in reverse chronological order so that the most recent post appears first” (Rettberg, 2008)

Why blog? Why blog? “feelings of isolation or alienation may

have a consequential impact as computer-mediated technology continues to play an even greater role in higher education. It is important to look for methods, strategies and technologies that allow all learners to feel comfortable in the learning environment.” Dickey and Michele (2004)'

Why do we need online Why do we need online learning communities? learning communities?

“At the simplest level, online learning communities simply express the social nature of human beings” Daniel (2006)

September 2009 BAPD Childhood Practice cohort

Initial Research QuestionInitial Research QuestionCan the use of student / tutor Can the use of student / tutor

collaborative blogging enhance an collaborative blogging enhance an online learning community and online learning community and alleviate student perception of alleviate student perception of

isolation in online distance learning? isolation in online distance learning?

Sub Questions to be Sub Questions to be investigated investigated

Can blogging enhance a sense of online Can blogging enhance a sense of online community?community?

How can we facilitate blogs to give them a How can we facilitate blogs to give them a focused purpose?focused purpose?

What are the perspectives of Childhood What are the perspectives of Childhood Practice students in relation to using the Blogs?Practice students in relation to using the Blogs?

How are the blogs being used by students How are the blogs being used by students (content analysis) (content analysis)

What implications for quality enhancement in e What implications for quality enhancement in e learning can be drawn from our investigation learning can be drawn from our investigation

Research methodsResearch methods Literature ReviewLiterature Review Action ResearchAction Research Questionnaires to studentsQuestionnaires to students Content analysis of Blogs Content analysis of Blogs

Childhood Practice Community Childhood Practice Community Blog Blog

This is an effective way of sharing new information and resources which are specific to the students who all work in a variety of settings with children 0 – 16

Module Specific Blog Module Specific Blog

Peer support and module specific information can be shared within an individual module.

Prompting Discussion Prompting Discussion

Measures of Success? Measures of Success? Students are using the blogs for a variety of Students are using the blogs for a variety of

purposespurposes

Qualititative data to be gathered but students Qualititative data to be gathered but students are saying they like bloggingare saying they like blogging

Blog analysis so far demonstrates peer Blog analysis so far demonstrates peer support as the most common use of the blog support as the most common use of the blog

Data analysis has just Data analysis has just begun begun

The Future The Future

to explore strange new worlds of e to explore strange new worlds of e technologies to support students technologies to support students

to seek out new opportunities for to seek out new opportunities for online communitiesonline communities

to boldly go where lecturers and to boldly go where lecturers and students need to gostudents need to go