Blogging

HOW CAN BLOGGING BE INCORPORATED INTO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF LEARNERS? 

 

  Blogs have been around for many years. They have been used to foster a space for collaboration and connect on ideas, and beliefs of users while supporting reflection and purposeful discussion (Sun & Chang, 2012). Blogging has never been an activity that I have ever practiced, but through my research, I can see why many may find it appealing to do. Whether someone is writing and publishing a blog, or participating as a commentator, there are skills that can be gained from doing either. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Blogging is a form of communication. When one blogs they are sharing their personal thoughts and ideas in a way where others are able to read and connect. To be able to connect in a way that is beneficial, users hone in on language skills to be able to have successful collaboration. Users are able to express themselves as individuals, be more thoughtful in their writing, and build upon their critical thinking skills by evaluating and monitoring the words they share (Baker, 2009).

CONSTRUCTIVIST TOOL

Incorporating blogging into a learning environment can align with the constructivist theory and be given the opportunity to build and create their own learning. Blogging is the process of active interaction, reflective of ideas, intentional in thinking, authentic and relatable, and collaborative with others (Seitzinger, 2006). These are key elements within a constructive learning environment and gives learners the freedom of expanding their skills.

Blogging may be seen as just a hobby and a way of putting your ideas into writing, but educators are beginning to see the benefits of blogging and incorporating them into learning environments. 

To continue learning more about how blogging can expand one's knowledge and skills, check out these resources linked below.

REFERENCES

AIContentfy Team. (2023, November 6). The power of blogging for online learning and education: Sharing your knowledge and inspiring others. AIContentfy. https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/power-of-blogging-for-online-learning-and-education-sharing-knowledge-and-inspiring-others

 

Bakar, N. A. (2009). E-learning environment: Blogging as a platform for language learning. European Journal of Social Sciences, 9(4), 594-604.

 

Graduate Programs for Educators. (n.d.). Ed Tech: Enhancing Learning with Student Blogs [Photograph]. Graduate programs for educators. https://www.graduateprogram.org/blog/ed-tech-enhancing-learning-with-student-blogs/

 

Pappas, C. (2021, May 12). How to use blogs in the classroom. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/how-to-use-blogs-in-the-classroom

 

Seitzinger, J. (2006). Be constructive: Blogs, podcasts, and wikis as constructivist learning tools. Learning solutions e-magazine, 31, 1-12.

 

Sun, Y. C., & Chang, Y. J. (2012). Blogging to learn: Becoming EFL academic writers through collaborative dialogues.