Summary of the Phenomenon of Blogs
and Theoretical Model of Blog Use in Educational Contexts by Hyung Nam Kim
Blog is an asynchronous Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) which growing
widely around the world. Blog is a place where people love to share their
opinions and information. Blog is also famous among young adults. Therefore,
blog is the best example for CMC. Kim (2007) stated that implementation of blog
in educational contexts can enhance the communication environment among
students and teachers. The research is conducted to assess earlier literatures
on educational blogs and traditional CMC applications by analyzing its benefits
(Kim, 2007). However, there are two opinions about the advantages and
disadvantages of CMC for educational contexts.
Based on the research, Kim (2007) (citation in Lin et al., 2006) has discovered
that blog productively contribute to students’ online activity. Technologies
are growing rapidly in this millennium era. Thus, students can gain information
from the website such as blog. For example, long distance learning. Instructors
will use CMC applications in giving instruction to support students in
communicating and collaborating with other peer students. Besides, students are
able to communicate, discuss problems or exchange ideas with their peer
students. Using CMC applications in students’ educational environment will
increase their views and opinions especially in critical thinking skills,
problem solving skills and communication skills (Kim, 2007). Blog technology
successfully enhanced interactivity where 31 students posted 700 entries on the
course blog,
In contrast with Kim (2007) (citation in Divitini et.al., 2005) believed that
blog technology has failed to motivate students to involved in online activity
due to the limitations of CMC tools. The limitations of CMC tools are lurking,
anxiety, instructor-centered system and others (Kim, 2007). Students have
tendency to be less voluntarily engaged with e-learning environment. It is
because students feel uncomfortable with participating in online communication.
Other than that, students will not always observe or post any online activities
done in class. The lack of posting and self-esteem make the CMC tools failed in
educational context. Result showed that the blog implementation in the course
was unproductive in terms of interactivity among students. It took total of
nine entries which were posted on the blog for a one year course. Kim (2007)
proposed that personal blog is available to everyone and students can
communicate with other students. A sense of ownership helps students to reduce
their anxiety of participation in online communication. Blog also encourage
students to make reflections or comments of their point of views. Indeed, blog
support social and individual learning.
There are two ways to make blog as a successful usage in educational context.
First, students should be encouraged to allow other students to post comments
on their own blogs. Feedback helps in increasing students’ self motivation and
enhancing interactivity among students. Besides that, blog is designed to be
compatible with other social websites. Blog can be used as a place to seek
relevant information or share information. The information can be text, video
and audio such as Wiki, YouTube and Podcast.
In conclusion, there are disadvantages and advantages of using blog for
educational environment. Blog can be successful to motivate students to use but
others found that students are not excited enough to maintain ongoing usage.
However, personalized blogging might enhance online communication activities.
Personalized blogging enables students to express their opinion freely and self
reflect themselves from the feedback.
Reference
Taken from Kim,
H.N. (2007). The Phenomenon of Blogs and Theoretical Model of Blog Use in
Educational Contexts. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
USA.
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