Blogs For Faculty

Ten Ways to Improve Teaching While Saving Yourself Some Time With Blogs

What’s A Blog?

In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what’s new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Or not.

Forget diary, think easy-to-update website.

Pages & Posts

Choice of blog services.

Use WordPress,
either .com or hosted .org

Why WordPress?

What Can You Put In Your Posts and Pages?

Embed media:

Youtube
TED talk
your own PODcasts
audio
pictures

create a gallery

Embed documents:

Google Apps
Google Docs
pdf docs
word docs
presentations (slide share, etc.)

Polls & Questionaires
RSS feeds from other blogs
Twitter Feed

Why Not Use the LMS?

Control.

Independent of LMS.

Persistent between semesters.

Shareable – multiple courses, sections, professors

Easier to Edit & Customize.

Open.

Accessible outside LMS or from within LMS.

Flexible, categorizable, taggable, searchable, non-linear.

Discuss right there.

Multiple courses instantly current via links

Quick log-in, posting tools

No html or files needed

Uses?

Teaching:

Permanent, personal learning object repository

Link & comment on news/web items.

Syllabi -past, present, future.

Book lists, descriptions, annotations, sources.

Bibliography.

Public calendar – office hours.

Available anywhere – mobile or push to Facebook/Twitter/RSS, any platform

Broadcast reminders to students via FB/Twitter/RSS/email w/ 1 post (or just a text)

Answer questions once.

Discuss “handouts” or homework with students (non-graded)

Special tutorials or help.

Uses?

Professional

Teaching portfolio.

Up-to-the-minute CV.

Research.

Write and Publish.

Reach a bigger audience.

Continue contact with students after course/graduation.

Wait! Even MORE!

Host online discussions (like lcc.edu/strategy)

Create a class publication

Get your students blogging

Create a fully functional website

A recruiting site.

????

Don’t just take my word…

edublogs.com’s Top 10 List
1. Post materials and resources
2. Host online discussions
3. Create a class publication
4. Replace your newsletter
5. Get your students blogging
6. Share your lesson plans
7. Integrate multimedia of all descriptions
8. Organise, organise, organise
9. Get feedback
10. Create a fully functional website