Month: January 2018

The only reason I have a blog is to (and has been) to fulfill course requirements. I would say that the main reason for this non-preference has been a lack of understanding on what the purpose of using another avenue to disseminate professional thoughts and deliverables is. Isn’t that what journal articles are for?

The readings assigned this week were quite thought provoking, personally, regarding the utility of using non-academic avenues to reach a broader audience on your own terms. Beyond that, the usefulness of multi media tools to engage students and foster better writing habits, that are important for any career path, was another facet of blogging/networking/digital learning that I had not considered before now. I hope to learn more about using such methods in order to enhance my effectiveness as an educator.  Somewhat like what this professor has achieved (see this presentation ) through direct, meaningful feedback from students.

Ultimately I think the structure of university systems does not facilitate the application of these ideas well. Both in the student and professional context – again, students seem to be concerned with how they will be assessed, and meeting the minimum requirements in order to move on to the next obstacle. Also, in Academia the prospects for hiring and promotion are frequently discussed and of great import to many who seek faculty positions. How does blogging, for example, which takes away time from writing journal articles and conducting research contribute to the possibility of hiring and tenure?  While I can now understand the importance and perhaps the utility of defining a broader audience for my academic work and professional pursuits, I still feel that research productivity and peer-reviewed publications matter more — and time is short. What do you think?