Will I convert to blogging?
Well the simple answer is – I have no other choice.
But…will I really learn to enjoy and understand it, and see it for the beneficial tool that Tim Hitchcock makes it out to be?
In all honesty, I am one of those people that internally rolls her eyes at the mention of blogging. So, when I found out that blogging would be a fundamental part of my semester, since I am required to blog for two classes, let’s just say I was the least bit excited. However, I much prefer it to the discussion boards on Canvas because well…its Canvas. So, will I be converted into an avid blogger? I’m open to the possibility. Or will I be ecstatic when May comes around and it’s all over? Could be.
But for now, I am looking forward to the appealing idea, that this too could count as academic writing, but in a much more approachable way.
Before doing this week’s reading/watching I had never associated blogging to academia. Instead when I heard the word “blog” I would hear a millennial’s voice in my head – “I’m a blogger”, as their answer to what they do for a living. Meanwhile, their blog consists of posts like…“5 drinks you must get while on vacation in Cancun”. While there is nothing wrong with that…and I’m sure that post could be useful to someone, that was my honest idea of blogging! And yes, I myself am a millennial. Anyway, the notion that blogs can be a useful platform in our careers is certainly a new and intriguing idea for me.
However, I find that blogging fits almost seamlessly into the concept of networked learning.
Networked learning seems to be the sharing of ideas with people outside of our classroom and conference rooms. But instead of sharing it only via scholarly articles, books, etc. making it public on platforms that are common and available to most people in today’s day and age, (i.e. Twitter, blogs). These platforms can open up the discussion to a broader audience, where collaboration and teaching are not only between student and teacher, but others outside of our field that may have contributions that can help to further develop an idea. For example, what we are doing in this class!
