Course homepage
Course homepage
Sunday, 17 June 2007
On the topic of "discussing"
Despite my criticism of Krause in my previous posting, I am going to add that I completely see his point that blogs do not foster discussion (as compared to electronic mailing lists). I have to force myself to post this text with which I am uncomfortable, because it is short and only makes a passing comment, rather than analyzing a text. I am doing this to “attempt” the discussion mode which I was able to engage in the previous 2 weeks. Nevertheless, I think that the awkward look this will have on the thread of postings in this blog supports Krause’s point. Also, the steps that have to be taken to read from the first to the latest posting is counterintuitive and (I think) discourages dialogue: to follow the order of the posts, we must read from the bottom up and from the back forward (“older posts” to “newer posts”), and then we must again scroll down to get to the next page (because the top of the page does not offer the option to go to a newer page)—all of this in order to follow and enter into the discussion. Another hindrance is that it is necessary to read every single post (and remember what each one says) in order to see if there is a discussion at all—that is, if there is anyone “responding” to anyone else. For me, reading a list of often disconnected texts on different articles (of course, with a common theme), does not encourage responding to anyone. Rather, I am inclined to continue posting my own individual contribution. What I have read (and written) so far really does not feel like a discussion to me. Thus, despite my earlier disparaging of his article for other reasons, I agree with Krause that this medium lends itself more to “publishing” rather than interactive discussion.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I agree. Even now, I spent the almost an hour composing an initial response to the Kajder chapter without thinking that I was part of a discussion of the topic. Now, as I go down the postings of others, I may have more to say, but still, this does not have the feel of an online discussion to me that that the previous two formats (the same format, different sites) gave.
Ana, I totally agree with you too. I do not think blogs are set up to be an online discussion. Being a "group discussion leader" this week with Jeremy and Sarah, I've tried to read and comment on almost everyone's posting;however,commenting does not mean discussing. There is no ongoing communication like we've used on the webct or litandwriting. I think the format is not conducive for discussions. I don't like reading newest to oldest posts either because it feels like I'm reading things backwards, and in a true discussion board we'd be able to see what was first posted and then added on in response, adding to the whole feel of an ongoing discussion. I feel like I haven't had the time to experiment and research the other websites because of this blog. Trying to read, respond and go through everyone's writing has taken me so long that I've only checked out a couple of the sites suggested. I agree with Alan and Ana that blogs are set up more for publishing work or journaling, but not for discussions.
I also agree. This is being rather annoying and difficult; it is hard to see the discussion happening on a larger scale. This would seem to be the least conducive for discussion, but like you say, good for publishing.
I am relieved that others have the same impression. I also have to say that I only just realized that there is a way to respond to each individual posting. I didn't know this comment feature was here. Obviously, I do not have an eye for this type of formatting because the tiny little word "comments" is at the bottom of the post (in beige, such a "standout" color, no less). However, if there is one thing I have learned from this week's experience it is that I cannot take for granted what will appear clear or obvious to my students--in the use of technology, or any other format I want to use in my classroom. Personally, I could have used (and still could use)more instruction on how blogs work before having to use one. I appreciate the experiential component of realizing the potential pitfalls in person,in the actual use, but there is also a point at which too much frustration right from the start disuades students from moving forward and, ultimately, working to their full potential. This week, I definitely did not engage in dialogue in the way which is most useful to me for my own learning. For example, after reading the Knobel and Lanshear piece, my reaction was "alright, there are some interesting points...(long pause)...I don't think I can say anything." Interestingly enough, I think it was the medium, not the prompt, which left me so speechless. And, I NEVER find that I have nothing to say (even when I'm trying).
So perhaps that is the second thing I have learned about incorporating technology this week--I believe new techniques and formats are most beneficial when gradually incorporated, making sure to use a foundation of what is familiar and comfortable to students. For example, if I wanted to incorporate a classroom blog to a classroom of high school students who were already familiar with writing in reflection journals, I might ask students to make one posting about one same theme (perhaps a novel chapter, a play scene, a journalism article); then I could ask each student to read one other person's post and write a reflection on both (their own and the classmate's) in their journals; once I have read these reflections and given a prompt for further dialogue, I would explain the use of the comment feature on the blog site, and ask students to make a comment to that other blogger taking into account their own journal entry and my comments. My hope would be to take advantage of the publishing aspect of blogs, while fostering dialectical thinking in a medium which I don't really view as dialogue-driven, and also to scaffold the use of technology, so that students don't get discouraged by the medium.
Nice suggestions from Ali. I agree with all of you that trying to accomplish the sort of discussion we've been having in the medium of the blog is somewhat frustrating. I dislike the fact that you can't shrink the posts and see just the title and poster, the way you can on a discussion board. It's hard to get a sense of the whole when you're buried in a long column of text.
Post a Comment