Instructional Design & Educational Technology Tips

Kevin Gilbertson and Lauren Pressley have been using blogging software as their Course Management System for their LIB100 courses since Fall of 2008. This tool holds syllabus information, course announcements, and discussion topics. You can view their course blog at blog.zsr.wfu.edu/infoverse.

Blogs are well situated for constructivist teaching. The blog can grow in scope and content as the course evolves. Discussion posts can be created for student to comment from whatever their current perspective is. Students can build on the knowledge that they and their classmates bring to the table.

In this sense, blogs facilitate conversationally driven instruction. Conversations connecting course content can happen on the blog as well as in the class. Blog discussion can inform classroom discussion and vice versa. These conversations can help bring content together, helping students understand the interrelatedness of the information they’re learning.

Finally, for those interested in social reform methods of education, and those interested in how the internet is shaping culture, blogging gives you the opportunity to discuss the role of online media, how online publishing works, and the power of the medium.

Tips to consider when using a blog as a content management system:

• Start with a clear understanding of the role the blog should play in your course. This will inform how you can make use of the technology.
• You can include a link to the blog in the sidebar of your Blackboard course. You can then have the link open the blog within the Blackboard course, or as another window or tab.
• Your blog is publicly visible. Make sure students are aware of this before posting, and be aware of this when commenting on student work. Grade distribution still works best in the secure Blackboard website and in face-to-face interactions.