Thoughts of a nurse educator/student

Blogging, or web log, is a highly popular communication tool among young internet users. Blogging is similar to an online journal, and allows the 'blogger' to write his or her thoughts, and publish it online for others to read, and comment on.  It is a personal place in virtual space (Glogoff, 2005).  

In this article, Glogoff (2005) provided a balanced perspective of using blogging in the classroom. First, he provided examples of how blogging can be used to promote peer interaction, and a community of inquiry, by allowing students to 'blog' about certain topics and give feedback to each other's posts.  Glogoff (2005) used a scholarly approach in describing the use of blogging in the classroom, by linking it with instructional techniques as described by Clark and Mayer (as cited by Glogoff, 2005).  Finally, Glogoff (2005) discussed some of the nuances that students experienced with the use of instructional blogging.  He described some of the challenges around motivating students to post some of their thoughts/feedback online, and how some students felt disappointment when their peers or professors did not respond to their posts.  Overall, the author provided a balanced approach in discussing the use of blogging as an instructional tool in the classroom.

One question I have after reading this article is: Is blogging a scholarly approach to teaching and learning? (Read my previous post for my thoughts on this!)

Reference:

First, let me define what I mean by the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL):

According to Boyer (1990, as cited in Ryerson University website, 2013), The Scholarship of Teaching includes 3 basic qualities:

(1) the work is public

(2) peer reviewed and critiqued, and

(3) exchanged with other members of both the scholarly and general communities who build on the work.

Similarly, the Michigan State University (MSU) website has provided several resources on SoTL.   According to MSU, SoTL promotes teaching as a scholarly endeavor and a worthy subject for research, producing a public body of knowledge open to critique and evaluation (Rosen, 2013).  The goal of SoTL is not only to improve teaching, but to create a community of 'scholarly teachers', and practitioners.  Within this community of practice, members add to the body of knowledge about teaching and learning, and they benefit from the SoTL research of others (Rosen, 2013).

Therefore from these two definitions, blogging, if done properly, can be used in SoTL.  Let me tell you how.

By blogging about my work as an educator, I am making my work public, so that others can review it and critique it.  Those who have viewed my blogs are able to provide comments and feedback, making it possible for ideas to be exchanged.  One of the requirements for SoTL is that it needs to be peer-reviewed.  This part, though challenging, is still doable; it is dependent on who is in my 'network of followers', such that if my followers consist mostly of teachers, and educators, then those who will be reviewing my work, are my peers.  

By creating this Tumblr page, I have found another way to communicate my thoughts to others, expand on my network, and perhaps learn from my peers, and members of the community.

References:

Rosen, L. (2013).  Scholarship of teaching and learning.  Michigan University Website.  Retrieved from http://fod.msu.edu/oir/scholarship-teaching-and-learning-sotl#What_is_SoTL