Blogging as a Learning Environment

Using a blog for a class is a new experience for me. Most of the time assignments are formal, from the formatting to the wording. I am enjoying this new environment, and I think the “blogosphere” adds another dimension to class interaction. Using a blog impacts learning because it has created a much more relaxed community for students to interact in. While I am still aware that I am completing a school assignment and that I need to keep my writing professional, I am able to incorporate other creative thoughts and ideas into a blog.  I think we see each other’s personalities on a new level, and we have the opportunity to give each other feedback on nearly everything.  I think it is much easier to scan down the page of blogs I am following and see what each person has written than to watch the discussion boards and continually check for new postings.

I also like how each student has his or her own space to express himself and complete assignments, but we can still form a community by sharing our entries and by following other people. I think this encourages learning because we are able to be independent, yet we come together and receive feedback from others at the same time.  Blogging provides a new avenue of learning, and it has shown me that different types of learning can take place in different online environments. Just as students in a classroom experience learning through various techniques such as reading, listening, and hands-on activities, online students can learn in multiple ways through numerous types of electronic tools like discussion boards, blogs, and other social media that promotes interaction.