07-16-15 “Graduate Teaching Fellows Workshop”

Hello, everyone!

Today we will discuss selected features of the u.osu.edu blogsite platform. My aims are threefold:

  1. to present u.osu.edu as one option for teaching, group activities, and/or personal use;
  2. to complete a “mock” workshop to prepare for a full workshop I will organize for ESTA on September 14th, 2015;
  3. to gain your valuable insight into and constructive criticism on the use of a blog for ESTA.

We will conclude today’s workshop by posting responses to a prompt in the comments section of this page. This will not only indicate your adeptness with the platform, but also create a referable source of feedback for ESTA’s leadership as we develop this blogsite.

**********

First, why consider using a blogsite for teaching or group activities?

  • For teaching:
    • Something new and challenging
    • Means of assessment that diverged from the essay/examination format
    • Timely and constant formative assessment of student work
    • Lessons are easily accessible on the blogsite and posting on them is convenient
    • Mobile device friendly
    • More and more passionate student writing on the blogsite than in the essay format
    • Commensurate with lessons drawing upon multimedia sources (Philips & Nicholls, 2009)
  • For group activities:
    • Collaboration, community, and consolidation
    • Real-time development
    • Visibility
    • Prospective students

Second, let’s turn to some of the selected features of u.osu.edu:

(1) Signing Up

1

(2) Using the Dashboard

2

(3) Posting v …

3

(4) Commenting

4

Third, we should consider possible weaknesses of the u.osu.edu platform:

  1. Unstable: lacking Word to platform transferability
  2. No direct file attachment options
  3. Incommensurate with professional citation standards?
  4. Dashboard is “clunky”; important features are embedded
  5. Few opportunities for customization

Fourth, we should consider possible weaknesses of blogging in general:

  1. Outmoded?
  2. Threatening to the brick and mortar model?
  3. Hostile to students without access to technology or low technology literacy
  4. Considerable front-end work to ensure access
  5. Hurdles to discussion

**********

Today’s prompt:

  • Open-ended: Please comment on anything you’d like to about blogging in general or today’s workshop in particular.
  • Directed question: How could a blogsite facilitator make it less “wagon wheel”? In other words, how could she foster communication between participants and reduce the prevalence of facilitator-participant discussion?

Thank you once again for your time and feedback and I look forward to your comments. Please feel free to return to this page after this workshop, too, to provide us constructive criticism!

Jamie (07-14-15)

6 thoughts on “07-16-15 “Graduate Teaching Fellows Workshop”

  1. You could ask students to reply to at least one other person’s post so that it’s more conversation-like.

    • Marissa, thanks for that – I think asking is probably the best way to approach this as requiring may be too strict?

  2. I am looking for a website that allows for your second question as well. LIke a pinterest board where they can link resources and it comes up as an image and then people can like it or comment on it. I may end up just using pinterest

  3. Jamie!

    Open-ended: I personally think blogging could work as an “extended” approach to Twitter (which is often used in higher ed conferences/events). It could allow scholars to interact informally in group settings, but in a space that allows for more dialogue (and words!).

    Directed question: To both Marissa’s comment and your response to her, it might be interesting to ask (not require) participants to respond to your – the facilitator – questions at the end of an event (in the case of ESTA, a colloquium) by projecting your blog on a big screen. Space for dialogue could you provided at the end of your event(s) as people are chatting informally and preparing to leave. This conversation could then flow organically afterwards (hopefully! ha) as members subscribe to comments and build rapport online.

    Thoughts?

    • These are GREAT thoughts, Leah. I think the idea of putting the blog on the big screen after an event would be a great reminder of continuing the conversation.

      I think what blogging might lack is the immediacy of Twitter, but then again, I like how verbose (in the bets possible way) one can be on the blogging platform.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *