Use of Blogs in Online Learning

What do you know about blog sites? How do you benefit from blogs? Blogs are those interesting forms of writing which inspire and analyze various topics, in short an entertaining and informative feature of a website. Well, I am sure the definition is short and sweet, but, you see there is a lot more about blogs and their uses. In an effort to offer the best of information, a list of questions and their answers are presented below for your reference and understanding.

What is a Blog?

A website that allows you to publish your ideas, opinions and writings instantly is called a Blog Site or the Web Blog. A Blog Site is developed with the help of Blogging Software on the web, which enables the user to publish his or her views. All you need is a computer with internet connection.

Why Don’t You List The Benefits Of Blog Sites?

Being a frequent visitor of various blog sites, one can understand that these sites offer varied benefits. It caters to the demands of a number of people and therefore the benefits vary according to the user.
These blogs sites were originally meant for personal blogs or journals. Slowly the usage began to diversify and today the varieties of users have increased tremendously.
Among the various users of blogs, academic institutions are finding a better and the most required usage of blog sites. In short, they are either used for group journals or by students individually, which is formally linked to the group’s webpage. Blogs are widely used by colleges as a means to the curriculum and its representation among students. Most of the online discussion forums find the blog format extremely useful for their kind of presentations and interaction from students.
With the onset of online education as one of the most preferred medium of study, blogs are an inevitable part of online study curriculum.

How Can Blogs Used As Medium Of Instruction Within a College Course?

• The school of study and the instructor in particular posts various announcements and information, assignments to students and lessons in short for the ready reference of students
• More aptly called an interactive medium of study, students get an opportunity to express their opinions about a particular topic or subject posted for discussion over the net.
• Articles on various topics provide extensive knowledge on the subject and students in turn can post their comments on these articles.
• Lectures and relevant class discussions can be done when pursuing online degree with the help of blog sites
• Many schools require their students to post their writing assignments and exercises which have been instructed to be solved at home.
• Students find it very useful to post comments, throw questions to their instructor about the course and the subjects in particular and talk to fellow students about course progress and related benefits.
• Used as a writing portfolio, blogs are found to be very helpful in expressing thoughts by students about their subject of study.
• Activities and presentations pertaining to a particular subject can very well be discussed over the net by way of blog posts.
• Students get to know each other very well, by not just chatting, instead by responding to the various posts offered by various students.
• As a means of evaluation, assignments are cross verified and the qualities of presentations are evaluated by fellow students positively by way of blog posts and related responses.

Blog Moderator Role in Online Learning:

Regulation is a keyword for effective performance. Any form of online discussion forum for that matter, should be regulated for better and optimum performance. As far as blog site interaction goes, it is the moderator who plays a vital role in regulating a discussion forum, making students participate with regular reading and reply to the various blog entries posted and compulsory presentation of articles by all students over the net.
The moderator should make it clear to the students about the nature of presentation, decency in communication, proof reading before posting, comfort and convenience in posting their opinions, making online discussion in line with class discussions, giving a feeling of live virtual interaction. Hence effectiveness of communication can be regulated only by a competent moderator who knows the way to make interaction absolutely wonderful.