Description
A personal website or web page on which an individual records opinions, links to other sites, etc. on a regular basis.
Features
- Easy for users to write and upload posts and edit them later if needed
- Easy for users to embed images and videos
- Allows full formatting rather than just plain text so that posts can have headings, hyperlinks, etc.
- Looks and works the same in all popular browsers.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Self-expression and reflection
- Share your thoughts on a topic
- Can be a shared construction of knowledge
- Build a portfolio over time
- A way to get feedback
Cons
- Hard to maintain a posting schedule
- Limited ability to move a blog from one place/platform to another
- Time-consuming to assess
Best Uses
- Personal expression and reflection
- See http://sites.psu.edu for use examples.
Pedagogical Goal
- Reflection
- Stating opinions backed by facts
- Peer review
- Asynchronous discussion
Getting Started
- See http://sites.psu.edu . Use examples included!
Training Available
ITS Training Services:
• Live Training
• Resources
Local Contact for More Information
Delivery Mode
- Out of class
Individual or Group?
- Individual primarily, but can be both
Shareable with Others?
- Private
- Sharable only with individuals with a Penn State Access ID
- Shareable with the world
Confidentiality of Data
- Access – May be Public or Internal/Controlled (only open to selected individuals).
- Data Storage – Penn State controlled.
Synchronous or Asynchronous?
- Asynchronous
Best for Class Size of
- <50
Learning Curve for Instructors/Creators
- Stability – Stable
- Bandwidth – Minimal for text and images, robust for video
- Development Time – Minimal
- Development Cost – Minimal
- Maintenance Cost – Minimal
Required Level of Expertise
- Low to medium
Assessment/Tool/Criteria
- Writing Analysis/Rubric/Varies depending on assignment
Cognitive Activity
- Understand
- Apply
- Evaluate
- Create
Equipment Required
- Web browser
Type of Tool
- Web-based
Accessibility Issues
- Varies. Text should be OK. Included images can be tagged with ALT text. Ideally, embedded videos should be captioned.
Costs
- None if using the Penn State blogs platform
Level of University Support
- Central
Longevity
- Medium, unless the University changes to another platform
Key Words
Click on a key word or phrase below to see other pages/tools that can be used as the word/phrase implies!
