Response: Blog Forum

I have used collaborative forum posting in coursework before; however, I feel as though the experience with this course blog was different. First, the interface, whether web-based or via e-mail, was much smoother than that of WebCT, Wolfware, and Web-Course-In-A-Box. Most of those systems have an ugly, unreliable interface that inhibits active involvement. The blog form is more easily customizable: had I taken the time to format the sidebar, we could have seen better organization in terms of topical heirarchy and responses, we could have an interesting links section, etc. As far as readability is concerned, this format is clean and enjoyable.

Our class is unique in that we are a small group of advanced students, comfortable with one another after fourteen graduate hours taken together, who don't need much prompting to pontificate. Within our group particularly, who may have a higher comfort level with digital media in general, I think that this is an ideal format for class discussion and reflection. We joke about our respective "roles" within the class; however, I think that this is an important indicator of our comfort level with one another, something critical when writing reflective or critical essays for public consumption.

I feel that with undergraduates, this sort of forum would have to be far more structured and instructor-supported; personally, I feel that a "scaffolding" support structure would be best, in which the instructor starts out heavily involved and gradually backs off as the class becomes
more comfortable with the format. Some may feel uncomfortable given the public nature of the blog, in which case it would be best for an instructor to perhaps limit the syndication and linking of the blog in the "settings" pane.

The format of the weblog, while it allows for posts of any length, encourages brevity; thus, while impractical for formal assessment, it would provide an excellent method for determining student engagement with the material (are the posts superficial? do they touch on the
material and draw conclusions you were hoping for?). My own use of blogs in the classroom this semester ended disastrously; however, my experience with this blog (and my reflections as to WHY mine ended in disaster) will help me to create a more structured, supported system in
the future if I choose to use them again (which I will).

--Chris