The Centre for Instructional Technology is about to introduce Module Blogs for academic staff. The blogs will add to the range of communication tools already available to NUS faculty staff. More details about the system will be made available when it is online.
You may ask: why blog? Here are 10 reasons:
+ Blogs are simple to use and administer. So, you can concentrate on content.
+ Blog posts are persistent. You can change the look of your blog without losing or having to transfer previous content.
+ Blogs are a good way of disseminating and linking the latest resources, especially if your area of study/research is very dynamic and fast-moving.
+ Blogs inherently possess the potential for conversation through tools like syndication, permalinks, trackbacks and comments. (Don't worry if you don't understand the terminology, we will help you to understand these when we launch Module Blogs.)
+ Blogs allow you to reach students in an informal, non-threatening way. Blogs allow students to comment about specific posts, link directly to posts or comments, and reflect on them in their own blogs.
+ Blogs are discoverable; people in similar or related areas of study/research can easily find your blog, and ultimately, you.
+ Blogs increase connectivity through their discoverability. By design, blog content is easily distributed and searched via their RSS feeds.
+ Blogs have the potential to create community. Bloggers inevitably blog about similar posts in other blogs. Their discoverability, mentioned previously, helps to link like-minded people who can create a synergy greater than the sum of their individual blogs.
+ Blogs give you the space to reflect on your musings and observations.
+ Blogs are a platform for you to think out loud, with the whole world to hear your thoughts. Something constructive might come out of that. Done right, blogs help can help promote NUS as a Global Knowledge Enterprise through enlightened faculty staff who engage in conversations internationally, ultimately bringing about new knowledge and understanding.
Resources
- PH1101EGEM1004 Reason & Persuasion module blog
Take a look at Dr John Holbo's module blog - Weblogs in Education TeachingHacks.com wiki entry
- A blog is more than a communication tool by Christopher D Sessums, Director of Distance Learning, University of Florida
- Blogging and academic research by Christopher D Sessums