Several of you have shared your own experiences with maintaining or reading blogs. Others expressed curiosity regarding just how blogging could be used to support language learning.
- What do you think characterizes a good personal or professional blog? Feel free to link to any in your response.
- What ideas do you have for using a blog in a language learning class? How might a blog with a pedagogical function be different from a personal or professional blog?
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteAs in any useful conversation there should be some protocols on how to respond appropriately and respectfully. If you want to be helpful as a professional, you need to be tactful and provide input that is useful and supportive.
As far as using a blog in language learning class, I'm not completely sure other than having some general comments on a topic that uses the grammar rules you are covering in your class.
Having a blog with a pedagogical function would basically be a practice on using parts of speech to develop grammar skills, but a personal or professional blog is probably used for documenting experiences and opinions in general...but I'm not an expert.
Regards,
Sharon
A personal or professional blog can be characterized by well formatted postings that conform to the standards expected by the bloggers's target audience. Professional blogs should maintain a informative tone, rather than a controversial tone, and should only consider controversial language when the audience will generally be empowered, rather than turned away from the product or service provided by the professional blogger.
ReplyDeleteAs a pedagogical device, blogging can provide a platform for students who might need extra time to gather their ideas, and edit their postings with out the fear of having to produce rapid and 'real-time' conversation. It can allow a person a sense of security whilst also boosting their ability to engage in the subject the blog is being used for. This is especially useful for students who have a limited vocabulary and need extra time to come up with subject specific words to describe their ideas.
Pedagogical blogs should not be graded with the knowledge that it might be formatted in a less than academic way, but with the goal of helping the student achieve an academic tone, fluency, and rhetoric.
Perhaps it is fine to use it for entertainment as well, but it is important to use wise judgement to write the postings. I try to be cautious on what I write because the last thing I would want to do is insult anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe blog can be used in a language learning class for students to discuss assignments or for other academic purposes with students and parents. A blog with a pedagogical function is different from that of a personal or professional in the way it is used for positive and academic purposes.
I don't often read blogs, but those I had checked out from time to time share a few basic characteristics. A good personal/professional blog should be interesting, both visually and in the content posted. I appreciate a good sense of humor, honesty and open-mindedness in the writing style. Regular posting is a definite plus. It's sad to see a good blog slowly diminish over time.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen thus far, there seem to be quite a few blogs from ESL teachers blogging their experiences from abroad. An overwhelming number of them actually. Also, there are a few concerning English grammar.
I don't have any ideas about how a blog might be useful for language learning, but I intend to interview some of my current students. I figure I might as well go to the source and see what they want/need. I'm hoping for NOT grammar!
To me, a blog with a pedagogical function has the purpose of serving the English learners themselves. It wouldn't be so self-serving. A focus on what the students need and what will help them improve. And the hardest part, doing this in a way that interests them and motivates them.
I really don't have much contact with blogs on a daily basis, other than Gawker and some of my friends' personal blogs, but I always preferred blogs that are well-written and witty with a strong writing style.
ReplyDeleteBlogs can be used as a fun way for students to practice their reading and writing skills. A general topic or even a few general topics (say, current events) could be given to students and the last 15 minutes of class (or as a homework assignment) the students could blog about a topic and respond to other students' blogs.
I think the goal of a blog with a pedagogical function is a bit different from that of a personal or professional blog. Ultimately, the goal for English students is to produce and practice writing English text in a contemporary medium, not necessarily convey information or opinion.
Here are three guiding principles to writing a successful blog:
ReplyDelete•Develop a writing style and tone appropriate to your subject material.
•Post often, even if your posts are short.
•Allow your readers to comment on your posts.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/writing-a-good-blog.html.
Here is a great example of a professional blog that can be used to get your class involved (elementary).
http://www.jmeacham.info/
FOR THE PROFESSIONAL BLOGGER:
1.A Professional Blogger must Talk, Write and Express using Good English (or Language you prefer for your blog).
2.A Professional Blogger must be well aware about the Topic of his blog.
3.A Professional Blogger must be at least 1 Year old experienced in blogging.
4.A Professional Blogger must know to Interact with others.
5.A Professional Blogger must need enough Financial Potential for the Expenditure/Cost for the running of the blog.
6.A Professional Blogger must take few hours for the maintenance of the blog.
7.A Professional Blogger must be able to maintain the Post Frequency (1 Post Daily)
8.A Professional Blogger must Make a research on “Blog Tips, SEO and Related Webmaster Topics” to understand the basics of Professional Blogging
9.A Professional Blogger must not blog just for Making Money (Profit Generation). If he does, He is not a Blogger.. He is a just an Online Entrepreneur (Money Maker)
10.A Professional Blogger Must Take Time to Read Problogger, Lorelle on WordPress, Daily Blog Tips and Mextena Blog Tips
http://mextena.com/10-minimum-requirements-for-being-a-professional-blogger/
As I am more familiar with personal blogs or discussion based blogs, I will respond more in that direction. I have a friend with a literature blog via this website that I enjoy, and think characterizes a few of the aspects I believe should be in a personal/discussion based blog. (http://www.casualreaders.blogspot.com/).
ReplyDeleteI believe a blog should provide for easy navigation. As a user, I should be able to go through different posts and topics and access them. I also feel they should be clearly organized. Whether personal or professional, I believe blogs are functional as spaces for bouncing ideas of each other as well as engaging in interactions. I do feel that they should perhaps be moderated (unsure how exactly), so as to prevent explicit or derogatory public remarks.
2. As for using a blog in a language class, this is a question I am still pondering. It seems perhaps students in earlier levels could attempt to post small questions and practice language usage. They would be able to respond and try to develop language in this manner. Blogs with a pedagogical function would need to be differentiated from personal and professional ones. Personal and professional ones tend to be mini propaganda in a sense to cause either a person or a business to be highlighted. In a blog for classroom purposes, whether for language or other courses, the blog should be for assisting the students further their learning. The idea of a blog to use in an educational setting sounds almost a utopia, for I feel lines to define them easily get blurred on the internet. Perhaps, using technology for education raises questions such as this-- how is the line drawn between educational, professional, and personal. Are they not all somewhat conglomerated through the internet?
A good professional blog is about something specialized for specific interests. Writers use legible fonts and an appealing color scheme. A professional blog would use more proscriptivist grammar, as opposed to a personal blog where there would be more slang or netspeak. The professional blog would balance the sharing of information/facts and the expressing of personal opinions. Personal opinions and debates can be battled out in the comment section. (Watch out for trolls!)
ReplyDeletePedagogically, teachers can use blogs to extend discussion outside of the classroom and perhaps provide a medium more suitable for tech savvy students. Teachers can share links to other resources and keep learners up-to-date between classes. As a language learning tool, the blog offers studenst a chance to use language in a open and relatively low-pressure situation. It allows learners to use language to make meaningful comments with more emphasis on the content of the comment than grammar. It also introduces students to new ways to use langauage, because the way lanauge is used on the internet is often much different that speech or formal writing. The pedagogical blog is less of a platform for expressing personal opinions or sharing information and more an opportuinity for students to practice skills (language related or not).
I think that the best thing makes a good personal blog is thought,ispiration,iedeas and everything helps others
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite professional/personal blogs for crafters sometimes seem like they could also be models for pedagogical blogs. Crafters tend to post a lot of tutorials with pictures and step-by-step instructions. Here's one I really like called How About Orange: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThe uploading of images makes sense for hands on instruction, but may or may not be as useful for language learning.
However, some craft bloggers have started to incorporate video tutorials into their blogs like Alisa Burke: http://www.alisaburke.com/blog.html
This seems like it could be a good model for an online language teacher who is interested in posting tutorials and videos other innovative activities for language learners.
One of the most innovative uses of blogs that I can see as a model for advanced language learning is this RPG blog I found on livejournal: http://community.livejournal.com/darkrisingrpg/profile
Members here were role-playing a prequel to the Harry Potter series, and each blogger took on the voice, character and personality of a specific Harry Potter character. I could see this sort of activity being done for advanced language classes that have a literature focus. This would definitely require learners to attend to discourse level issues.
When I think about what characterizes a good personal or professional blog, I think about things that catch my eye. If the blog is boring or the content is boring, I doing really feel like taking time to read or look at the blog. The colors must be good, but not too busy. Interesting pictures and graphics always help in adding to a good blog. Also, the content needs to be interesting and pertaining to something that I like, enjoy, or want to learn about. This is all subjective though, because I might enjoy a certain blog because I can relate to it. But, another person will say that it is boring and not enjoy it at all.
ReplyDeleteOne blog that I continually visit is:
http://melissademing.com/
Another blog I enjoy for the recipe and cooking aspect of it is:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/
Secondly, I don't have very many ideas for using a blog in a language learning class yet. I hope to learn many new ideas in this class. One thing that might be beneficial would be to have the students talk about their language learning on their blog. They could ask questions on the blog, communicate struggles, successes, questions, thoughts, or any thing that might pertain to the class. I could see using a blog being very beneficial in a classroom. But, I think using a blog with a pedagogical function needs to be used strategically, or else teaching might get lost in the "playtime".
I am not sure of what would be the best characteristics for a personal or professional blog, but a concern that could be raised is the level of professionalism that is used when someone is blogging. What is the purpose of the blog? What is your target audience? Do you take into consideration that the blog is public? These are questions I will have to ask myself as I post to my own blog. I also feel that it is necessary to consider the length of entries. Some might not want to spend so much time reading the entry. Perhaps they just want the direct point of what you are commenting on.
ReplyDeleteFew blogs that I enjoy:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/
(lengthy entries but I enjoy the BBC)
http://failblog.org/
(silly entries but always good for a quick chuckle)
http://techcrunch.com/
(latest and greatest in technology, etc.)
I believe that a blog could provide students in a language learning class the confidence to speak and express ideas in their L2. The students may acquire language needed as they "search" and practice when completing specific assignments. As we are doing in this class, the entry can be specific topics that apply the lessons being learned in the classroom setting.
To me, a good personal blog is one that is creative, witty, and original. Anyone can have a blog, but if the first few sentences don't grab my attention, then I won't read the rest.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some excellent professional blogs, where educators give examples of innovative projects their students are working on. I've also seen many professional blogs that are highly collaborative in nature. When educators are reflecting, commenting on posts, providing feedback, and sharing ideas, a true learning community is formed.
Since blogs have a collaborative and reflective component, they are perfect for second language learners. I've used a blog for my first grade ESL students where they have to answer a prompt. The technology itself is motivating for them, but being able to express themselves on the blog helps to strengthen their writing skills.
When blogging is used as a personal reflective tool, more higher order thinking is involved. With higher order thinking comes increased understanding of ideas. I think language courses in high school and higher education could definitely benefit from using a blog as a tool for reflection. Having students post after each class, or lesson would increase their second language acquisition.
In summary, blogs rocks, and we are not using them nearly enough in all areas of education.
I think my answer to what constitutes as a good personal blog might not be technical enough because to me, a blog is a blog. I grew up with them and most of the personal ones I read are pre-made, plug and chug blogs that my friend use. Therefore to me, what constitutes as a good blog is good content; that is it's interesting and maintains my attention. I can read almost any personal blog no matter what it looks like or how it's organized. I am so used to reading blogs (and using the computer to read a blog) that technical issues like font size, colors, navigation etc. are not things I think about. It's more about content for me. One blogging site that a lot of my friends use is Tumblr: www.tumblr.com. I would define Tumblr as a blog beyond text (think lots of pictures) and short and to the point (not too much writing). I really like this blog a lot because it's just enough text with lots of pictures that I can read through quickly. Several of my friend use Tumblr to blog one picture every day and write a short entry about it.
ReplyDeleteLast semester I took Dr. Sauro's curriculum class and one of the articles we read focused on one student's creation of youtube videos to teach a minority language. I LOVE this idea and my ideal blog would be a tool I can use to teach my first language, Kapampangan - a dialect in the Philippines. I even have a name for the blog: Kapampangan Corner. I know a lot of young adults my age and younger who are losing their Kapampanan proficiency precisely because there are no reasource out there for us to learn it outside of our families. The computer and a blog utilizing video, pictures, Q&A, etc. would be an intereting, engaging, and fun way to teach this language.
I am gonna say that you can use a blog for a lot of different things. For starters you could do what Sharon says and post like a grammar lesson for the prompt, as an initiator of the discussion, and have different people comment with let's say an assignment of some sort, like a short textual comment back that has to do with grammar. You could also have a discussion of a grammar rules, and what kind of difficulties learners faced themselves using a part of speech, as a pre class activity.
ReplyDeleteNone grammar uses are practically unlimited, especially you could create opinion gap or something of that sort assignments.
A blog can also provide a tool for discussing cultural issues, or things that require opinions???
Another good use for a blog is, if made anonymous the blog can prevent a good defense for supposedly "stupid questions" aka questions that the students might believe are stupid.
practice with authentic language on current events could also be very useful, especially if the moderator/teacher asks students to keep formal conventions, because in this case the language is not only authentic, but also academic.
The students can also see the teacher/blogger express their thoughts in writing, as, well as, thoughts of other students, which may help them understand writing conventions, and techniques better.
Okay thats it for questions 2
For question one I would say that keeping current, to the topic, keeping within formal writing conventions, aka ACADEMIC writing would probably make the blog look more professional. Other things that could help also are something like posting relevant and interesting information, and keep the students' and the industries' interests in mind. Length and fragmentation can also be issues I think, too short and partial could be bad. Okay thats it!
Oh! And I almost forgot... I really enjoy blogs that are highly informative and amusing at the same time. As a linguistics person, I absolutely love this : http://language-nerd.com/
ReplyDeleteI visit it often, but this proves that sometimes content is more important than the layout.
I wouldn't say that the blog I have made is very professional, but I am learning new things in this class and incorporating it into my blog. I love to share it and help people with the content.
ReplyDeletewww.theglutenfreelife.wordpress.com
I tried to find one of favorite blogs from a few years ago...but couldn't. What I loved about this particular blog was the humor and wittiness of the writer. I think those are two of my main criteria; I love a funny, clever writer. Something else all blogs I've followed have in common is that they are all about "strangers in a strange land"...they are travel or expat blogs. I'm curious about other countries and culture and how we experience each other's cultures so it's fun to read about what people notice, find weird, love and so forth. I have never followed a blog other than one which was personal so I can't comment on what I look for in a professional blog other than I'd want intelligence and humor as well! Beyond these criteria, I would say a good blogger respects their audience.
ReplyDeleteI think a language learning class could use a blog to encourage written communication as the students could interact with each other by responding to posts. I could also be a way to discuss a myriad of topics relating to culture as students could post questions to things they've seen or experienced or are wondering about...and the teacher or other students could chime in with explanations or opinions, etc. It would be a way to continue these socio-cultural discussions outside of class.
I think blogs used for a pedagogical function may be more author-directed. For example, in this class you (Dr. Sauro) tells us what the topic is and we discuss it, so there is a higher level of control than in a typical blog where people could post or respond in any way they like. So, perhaps pedagogical blogs require action from the readers but personal are more just an airing of opinions and experiences .
I really don't follow many blogs, but I would think that a good professional blog for one thing should be attractive and, of course, professional looking! It shouldn't look as if it was pieced together. Headings should be clear and precise and the entries clearly separated from one another. Appropriate pictures could add dimension. Entries should be error free.
ReplyDeleteA personal blog can be anything you want it to be. It only has to meet your own personal specifications. It should be a place where you can be creative if you like.
I still think that you should be careful about what is written since many people will be viewing it.
A blog for use in a language learning class should be for the specific purpose of
learning language.
• It could be used the same way as a journal with the teacher and other students commenting (or not) for the purpose of language practice.
•It could be used to note what a student is learning and provide a record of this.
•It could be a place to note questions and answers or observations.
In my opinion, both personal and professional blogs should be updated regularly and have a few visual aids (pictures, videos, charts, etc) whenever the blogger thinks it may help his/her reader better understand what they are trying to convey. A lot of times, using non-standard English language can make the reader feel closer to the blogger but for a professional blog, it may not be as appropriate to use non-standard English compared to the personal blog.
ReplyDeleteMy idea is to have imagined scenarios posted on my class blog while students may post what they will say or how they will react as their comment. We will then discuss all the possibilities in class and go over the interesting comments students have posted. Moreover, when students have questions and are shy to ask in class, they can send me an e-mail and I will post extra information/more examples on the blog for them to read. A blog with a pedagogical function may have step to step instructions; charts (compare and contrast different verbs)and provide a lot of examples for the learners.
I think a good personal or professional blog will have some aspects to appeal readers to read the information. First of all, the blog must be very organized about the content For example,the blogger designs his/her blog with some pictures. Secondly, the blogger must be creative about designing the blog. Like what kind of content will appeal readers to comment on it or share with their friends. Besides, the blogger need to update his/her information all the time to let the readers keep reading your articles.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried to use blogs in language learning. I linked to some blogs of language learning before. Sometimes I will share information with students or teachers. For the blog which use for teaching purpose, it might be as much fun as personal one. Teachers need to understand students' habits of using internet. For instance, what kind of topics can interest students? It is important to provide clear and understandable instructions to lead your students learn from blogs. It is also good for teachers to put links to help students explore additional information.
What do you think characterizes a good personal or professional blog?
ReplyDelete-Blogging for professional purposes is relevant in a number of venues, but most particularly in education and journalism. The purpose of any blog, professional or otherwise, is to share information and generate a dialogue. We all have something of value within the context of our professional experience that can be of value to others and blogging is a way to bring light to a problem and fish for a variety of solutions. It is also a forum to connect individuals of diverse backgrounds to engage one another informally in a dialogue. Dialoguing is important in education and journalism because it helps to reveal the logical and perceptual fallacies that may be exacerbated by types of journalism and gives individuals (students) a forum to explore ideas interactively; engaging in content in more meaningful ways.
What ideas do you have for using a blog in a language learning class? How might a blog with a pedagogical function be different from a personal or professional blog?
-Blogging in education, particularly in language learning contexts, is a great way to engage students in content learning. One way that I have seen blogs used for, is to get students engaging in informal dialogues about content in a forum that is familiar to most. In the context of an ESL supplemental blog for a particular content course, blogging is particularly efficient at developing fluency since there is less of a focus precision in grammar and more of an emphasis on simply practicing language and sharing ideas, most of which do not have a right or wrong answer. For example, in World Geography class, a blog in which students share their thoughts regarding issues of genocide following a lesson, has benefits across the board, but particularly so with second language learners. Since students are typically engaging in dialogue with their peers, the language is informal, and there are no right or wrong answers, ESL student's affective filter is lower than in conventional learning environments. For students of lower proficiency, it is possible to use language ladders in conjunction with the blogging concept.
First of all it has to be something, that works. World of tecnology calls to me: come here, I will give you new indepenent identity. I will make you fight that loneliness, but you have to be ready pay the price for it - I will make you obsessed. OK.....
ReplyDeleteSo good blog means next step in this development. Means you have win the game of obsessity to flat screenYou have learnt to get flattery comments easy. Even to verbally destroyful. You have found the point to exist regardless. Private experience? Easy! I was running blog of my love and marriage abroad in my russain net - and I was demolished. My language was good. This is how love works - it pulls out of you the best. My best was my language. But uh, then you get the point that internet battle become indifferent for you - as far as IternetWin or InternetLoss...And you simply able to close down perfectly developed account forewer. Meaning you have learnt something and won't make those mistakes anymore...So I am talking about open-mindedness and sincerity in net. Good personal or professional blog means ability to pull out your best language and speak out your true mind with no desire to put on your internet-identity any make up or communicative mask.
I belive it is easy to do then you are running professional blog. You can talk your subject. Private blog almost always minefield. And you always have the silly option to put restriction on comments and write you blog for yourself by yourself, enjoying that loneless again...Or you have to run dialog and try to be intelligent with findind words and words and words...
So I have got feeling that I am almost ready to run my pedagogical blog. I belive it has to be good grammatically perfect language, and the only correct and double-checked words have to be used for this...If my blog means just running the business of education - it must be regular with instructions for my students, always posted in right time and every question has to be answered. I guess I have time to learn all details of professional net communication.