TEACHSOC: Re: Class blogs

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 07:20:07 -0700

Title: TEACHSOC: Class blogs
I utilize interactive student forums as part of my online introduction to sociology course.  It seemed important that students have a voice in the analysis of sociological issues.  I wanted to inject a needed discussion of humanist values and interpretion of everyday life. The discussion function on WebCt Vista was a good device for this purpose.  Basically, I put up a "Question of the Day" link several times per week.  Students are expected to respond with their comments and personal perspective.  For example, I focus on current events issues such as immigration, the DUI laws in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and implications surrounding the Duke Lacrosse team and sexual assault.
 
I do not get involved in the discussions.  Students post their perspectives and frequently respond to each other's points.  The frustrating part is that many students seem to avoid communicating through this process.  Approximately a third of the students are active in some way.  The active students are generally quite analytical in demonstrating an ability to apply sociology to current issues.  Many of the students enrolled in this course are older and have chosen the online option due to a full-time work schedule.  I am not sure if this will work as well with traditional 18-19 year old students generally enrolled in the classes meeting on campus. 
 
Lloyd Klein
Macon State College
 
From: [email protected] on behalf of Jay Livingston
Sent: Fri 4/7/2006 8:24 AM
To: Teaching Sociology
Subject: TEACHSOC: Class blogs



A few weeks ago, Andi Stepnick posted something about having students
post journal entries to WebCT.  I'm curious as to how this works because
I was thinking of doing something similar.  Many years ago, back in the
pre-Internet dark ages, I had students keep journals.  I required two
entries each week.  In each journal entry, students were to try to link
an idea from the course to something specific from their first-hand
experience.  It worked well with some students, but having to read and
comment on so much handwritten material was burdensome.

So I was thinking of having students do something similar now but on
Blackboard -- a sort of collective blog.  Each student could see what
others were posting, and they could make comments.  Perhaps discussions
would get started.

I wonder if others have experience with class blogs, and how anyone
thinks something like this would work, what problems might arise, how it
would be graded, etc.    Any suggestions?


Jay Livingston
Montclair State University


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