Blogging tends to be creative and conversational. Most of what I have seen is more informal writing with few restrictions. Blogs are varied and versatile. I saw opinions of experts and others more than I saw professional writing based on research, though some blogs include factual and informative information.
How is blog reading different from other types of reading? How is it similar?
Blogs are DIFFERENT because it is a form of writing that is interactive and conversational. It is not necessarily fiction or fact. There are few grammatical restrictions, formatting guidelines, or rules to follow, and much more flexibility in expressing thoughts and ideas. Blogs are opinions of the plethora of thoughts and ideas of those who choose to join the world of cyberblogs. It’s like writing a form letter (or essay) to anyone who wants to read it. Everyone gets to act as participants or observers having a choice to respond or not to respond. Topics and ideas are on-going and evolving with every new response.
Blogs are SIMILAR to other types of reading because they are words on paper that express thoughts and ideas of the author(s). It requires knowledge of the alphabet (though spelling is often abbreviated). It requires thinking and comprehension to understand what is being written.
How does commenting contribute to the writing and meaning-making?
Commenting contributes to the global sharing and learning of ideas through feedback offering insight into thought, meaning, and understanding. It is a faster way of sharing ideas with others. It allows for influences of others to be considered which may or may not cause a change in thoughts and ideas, even beliefs, and values. One must think about what they are reading and what others are saying, reflect on what is being presented, and respond based on their thoughts, ideas, and belief systems, or NOT – A person can just respond to interact with an audience – truth and relativity are the virtual reality.
Is there a "blogging literacy?" How does blogging affect the way we read and write?
After viewing all the recommended blogs, that would be the question that I would ask. Is there a “blogging literacy?” What exactly are we learning? It’s more like having a conversation at a dinner table with everyone talking at the same time. Yes, there is literacy but be careful how much value you place on what you see and read.
In the attached link, you will find a superior article titled "The New Literacies: Research on Reading Instruction with the Internet and Other Digital Technologies" written by Dr. Donald J. Jeu, Jr. of Syracuse University. This article describes 6 new literacies that technology supports. He offers examples of links that show examples and ideas of their uses. He goes on to explain the importance of these new literacies. It's a long article that I recommended for teachers who want to stay current with and/or get ahead of your students in technology.
How can blogging facilitate learning?
Two heads are smarter than one. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Blogs can facilitate student learning individually, among a community of learners, globally, exponentially. I can also see a greater need for critical thinking skills. It will require higher thought processes as described in Bloom’s Taxonomy. Evaluating an overload of information is now essential in teaching and learning. Students must learn how to decipher lies from truth, fact from fiction, words of a novice vs. an expert. Students have to learn how to analyze and question what they read.
I think that the Web 2.0 and technology support Gardner's Multiple Intelligences. It allows for more creativity and uniqueness while interacting in a social environment. See "How to Prevent Another Leonardo da Vinci" by Kris Bradburn and learn how to allow students creativity and flexibility in the learning experiences in the classroom. Blogging facilitates learning as described in "Leonardo da Vinci traits" of 1. Curiosita; 2. Dimostrazione; 4. Sfumato; 5. Arte/Scienza; and 7. Connessione;
2 comments:
Blogging gives us all an opportunity to feel that we can share our opinion without anyone seeing our face. I think it gives people the courage to speak up and share their opinion when they do not always feel comfortable otherwise.
It's DEFINITELY anonymous.
On some comments, I can't even figure out who is making them. When I click on your comment "My Viewpoint" it takes me to a page where I can find out who you are by going to 'my blogs'. On other comments, I can view the blogs they follow, but I cannot see their blog.
Thus, they remain totally anonymous.
--I don't know what function gives access or takes away that access.
Tracey, able to give me some help on this?
Post a Comment