Topic: “Blogging: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners”. Is blogging the same as discussion board activity? Based on this week's readings on blogging, discuss about the difference between blogging and discussion board activity (if any) and the pros and cons you think blogging brings to adult learners.
Though both blogging and discussion board activity require typing entries on the web where they can be seen, discussion board activity is limited to your peers in the classroom and blogging is published for anyone on the web to see. King & Cox (2011) note that a "distinctive feature of the blog is the ability for readers to comment on posted entries, which are dated," (p. 90). Unlike blogs, once discussion boards are locked, there is no more access.
Pros
"Blogs are one of the most popular forms of social media used in HE," Garcia, E., Moizer, J., Wilkins, S. & Haddoud, M.Y. (2019). That being said, adult learners might have a better chance at discussions with more of a variety of individuals, allowing for the potential of more in depth analysis and conversations on subject matter.
Garcia, E., Moizer, J., Wilkins, S. & Haddoud, M.Y. (2019) also mention that blogging and similar engagement with the technology depends on the "attitudes and perceptions," which could benefit adult learners if the individuals reading and responding were really upbeat and into discussing on blogs.
King & Cox (2011) elaborate on higher education blogging being an "extension of the online or paper journal in which the author expresses thoughts, feelings, and reactions to lived experiences in an attempt to reflect critically," (p. 93). Adult Learners have the freedom to explore their creative side all while learning and engaging in discussions and lectures.
One of the major cons of blogging and the adult learner is, as mentioned in a previous discussion, the less tech-savvy students and their inability to navigate the blog requirements. Even in this very digital/online/technological age, some platforms can really throw you for a loop. Interestingly, King & Cox (2011) point out that "many adult learners of all ages have scant exposure to the use of technology for educational purposes," (p. 95). Not to mention time sensitive deadlines can add an extra strain on the adult learner if they are finding themselves already stressed from this new platform.
Personally, I do not prefer the blogging over discussion boards as this is new to me.
References
Garcia, E., Moizer, J., Wilkins, S. & Haddoud, M.Y. (2019). Student learning in higher education through blogging in the classroom. Computers & Education, 136(1), 61-74. Retrieved from: https://www-sciencedirect-com.er.lib.k-state.edu/science/article/pii/S0360131519300776
King, K. & Cox, T. (2011). The Professor's guide to taming technology, Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Hi Tricia,
ReplyDeleteI would prefer to use a discussion board over a blog only because the idea of a blog is new to me as well. You mentioned that one of a discussion's board drawbacks is that "once the initial post has been upload, the access to the post is locked. I do like the fact that I was able to select the "revert to draft" button to fix an error on my initial post.
Alicia,
DeleteI am good at not always re-reading what I write before I post to correct an grammatical errors or sentences that do not really make sense. Though a discussion board does allow you to edit what you type before it is locked, it also allows everyone else to see you edited your post and I hate the thought that someone might think I edited mine to put in what someone else said!
One interesting thing I read that could potentially be a con to blogging was the idea that the "relative anonymity of the internet" allows for potential misunderstandings, arguments, and miscommunications, leading to cyber bullying. With a protected access account, like Canvas, the potential for cyber bullying is minimized, if not non-existent, therefore creating a safer online atmosphere.
Amirali, A. (2019). The online discussion boards- a classroom pedagogical tool. Retrieved from: https://myreadables.com/the-online-discussion-boards-a-classroom-pedagogical-tool-how-to-use-guide-pros-cons/
Hi Tricia!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog! I would like to start off by agreeing with you in that I also do not prefer the blogging over discussion posts. I struggled trying to figure out how to get everything set up the way I wanted and then editing it to my liking. The discussion board feels more user friendly to me. But I digress. I think you hit on the depth of the blog really well. I understand that while these posts are exposed for the world to see and observed by an instructor for our particular scenario, I think that a blog really does give individuals a better chance at discussion, especially when it is done so informally or non-formally. Maybe it ties into my comment on Michael's page about his informal writing style, but I think writing on a blog gives people more freedom than sometimes they may feel they have on a university discussion board. King and Cox (2011) mention that blogs have "varying degrees of self-disclosure" and I would also add, anecdotally, that it might even be more varying than a university discussion board is (p. 91). To me, that is the depth you talk about and I think sometimes the best depth comes from the discussion of topics that individuals wouldn't feel safe or comfortable posting on a class board!
Kiefer,
DeleteI agree that there is definitely wiggle room for creativity with a blog! In fact, when I wrote my initial blog for this assignment, it looked like it was all in one font, color, size. However when I published it, well, it turned out like you see up top! I have never been so confused with technology! Which actually draws a good point for me: in terms of professionalism and concise writing, discussion boards are far better for me. I also like being able to scroll down and read everyone's discussions, instead of having to continually open up blog pages. I like to think of myself as technology savvy, but this has since proved me wrong!
Hi Tricia,
ReplyDeleteI really like the colors in your blog!
I enjoyed reading your pros and cons when adult learners use blogging. Blogs are a popular way for people to learn with digital media nowadays. One use of blogs is teaching. A blogger can teach by doing through instruction or example, by living a certain experience and then sharing their lessons along the way. Another way blogs teach is through conversational learning. And by that the conversation is what is happening in the discussion section of the blog, as more knowledge is gifted through the natural conversations that develop from the original blog post (Schaefer & Smith, 2013). I like how blogs can allow for a more natural easy transfer of knowledge through the discussions, something that might be lacking in discussion boards where students are just trying to meet the requirements of an assignment. I also like the more creative aspect that blogging allows as discussion boards are kind of stodgy in comparison. Overall, within a class I prefer to just do discussion board postings, though. Although I am grateful for the experience with blogging and posting discussion online since I plan on building a blog into the content marketing aspect of my business once I get my website up.
Thanks,
Jennifer
Schaefer, M. & Smith, S. (2013). Born to Blog: Building your blog for personal and business success one post at a time. McGraw Hill Education.