"Blogging: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners":

Carter (2011) stated, “One of the most visible contributors to the Web 2.0 world of digital media is the Weblog, or blog” (p. 89).  Blogging has become a common mode of instruction within education today.  However, blogging was not the first type of online communication used for educational purposes.  Before the advent of blogging there were numerous types of mediated learning and interactive tools being used such as multimedia, online communities, and distance learning (Santos, 2011).  Therefore, the question begs; how is blogging different from other commonly used technologies such as discussion boards and what are the pros and cons of this type of communication for adult learners?

Many of us have participated in online discussion boards over the years while enrolled in a face-to-face course which required online collaboration or when taking a course solely through an online learning management system such as Blackboard or eCollege.  This is a discussion format I am familiar with from the role of both a student and an instructor.  The use of a blog however, was new to me until….well, today.

Blogging, although used as a communicative interaction just as a discussion board, is different in many ways.  Blogging is thought to be more social and create synergy between formal and informal communication which allows more freedom for students (Rhode, 2009).  Blogs allow instructors to communicate with their students in the online environment while not only facilitating learning but also developing a social presence (Keengwe, Adjei-Boateng, Diteeyont, 2013).  Blogs are also an opportunity for students to expand their network of professional relationships outside of the classroom while sharing their ideas with colleagues through virtual communication (Carter, 2011).  All of this can also be done at little to no cost to the students or their institution (for more information on that idea click here:http://chronicle.com/article/Blogs-Instead-of-Blackboard/44412/).  I can think of a few higher education administrators that would like that idea…

So far blogs sound like a great tool to use for adult learners, right?  Although there are many proponents of this idea there are others who would be more cautionary.  Huang et al. (2010) stated, “although the internet technology has made it possible for people to collaborate effectively without staying physically together, they have led to the unintended consequence of increasing isolation among people with respect to their academic peers” (p. 79) (Keengwe, Adjei-Boateng, Diteeyont, 2013).  The instruction and facilitation of a blog discussion must also be handled correctly by the instructor in order to create a positive learning experience for students (Carter, 2011).  Another aspect of blogging which students and instructors need to keep in mind is the public nature of the information being posted.

So are blogs different than discussion board activities?  My answer would be yes.  Blogs are more social and more personal.  However, as proven here (hopefully) they can still be a solid educational tool.  More to come on this and other uses of technology for adult learners…so stay tuned!

References:

Carter, T.J. (2011). Voice, empowerment, and impact: Using digital technologies in the classroom. In

     K.P. King & T.D. Cox, The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology (89-104). Charlotte, NC:

     Information Age Publishing, Inc.

Huang, J.J.S., Yang, S.J.H., Huang, Y.-M., & Hsia, I.Y.T. (2010). Social learning networks: Build mobile

     learning networks based on collaborative services. Educational Technology & Society, 13(3), 78-

     92.

Keengwe, J., Adjei-Boateng, E., & Diteeyont, W. (2013). Facilitating active social presence and

     meaningful interactions in online learning, Educational Information Technology, 18, 597-607

Rhode, J. (2009). Interaction equivalency in self-paced online learning environments: An

     exploration of learner preferences. International Review of Research in Open and Distance

     Learning, 10(1), 1-23. Retrieved from ERIC database.

Santos, A.N.E. (2011). Blogs as a learning space: Creating text of talks. Contemporary Issues in

     Education Research, 4(6), 15-19.

Young, J.R. (2009). Colleges consider using blogs instead of blackboard. The Chronicle of Higher

     Education, Retrieved from: http://chronicle.com/article/Blogs-Instead-of-Blackboard/44412/.