Technology Taster: Blogs Wikis Exposites

The Power of Blogs, Wikis & Expo sites

LTU Technology Taster

5 December 2008

Technology Taster

About student-generated content

For current and future Blackboard users

To share ideas

Overview

Blogs

Wikis

Expo Sites

What are they How do they work Why are they used

1. Blogs What?

simple web publishing

easy to use

basic functions

collaborative

comments

multiple authors

1. Blogs How?

For details, see:

LTU Technology Taster article: Blogs and Blogging

Help file for the blog tool in the BLE (Blackboard): LearningObjects Journal LX

1. Blogs Why?

Collaborative experience reports: Users: Students on placements Activity: Write a reflective report on your day or week, including problems, critical incidents, and positive encounters. Interaction: Students leave comments on other people’s experience reports, providing tips, support or encouragement.

1. Blogs Why?

Collaborative experience reports

Article Comment Comment Article Comment Article Comment

1. Blogs Why?

Private reflective journals: Users: Students in any learning context Activity: Write weekly 200-word reflections on set topics, selected readings, or identified instances of learning. Interaction: Students cannot see other student reflections (specific blog setup). Tutor responds via comment box.

Private reflective journals

1. Blogs Why? Article Feedack Article Article Feedack Feedack

2. Wikis What?

simple website editor

no structure

never forgets

collaborative

multiple authors

flexible permissions

2. Wikis How?

For details, see:

LTU Technology Taster article: Blogs, Wikis and e-Portfolios in Blackboard

Help file for the blog tool in the BLE (Blackboard): LearningObjects Teams LX

2. Wikis Why?

Annotated resource collection: Users: A group of students Activity: Locate relevant articles, websites and other resources on a set topic. Create one wiki page per resource with a 100 word review. Interaction: Students are encouraged to edit, expand on or comment on other people’s reviews.

2. Wikis Why?

Annotated resource collection

Wiki page Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph (edited)

2. Wikis Why?

Collaborative writing / peer review: Users: A group of students Activity: Write a comprehensive report on a topic. Assign responsibilities for different report sections within the group. Interaction: Students are encouraged to edit and expand on each other’s paragraphs. Tutor leaves comments and feedback.

2. Wikis Why?

Collaborative writing / peer review

Wiki page Paragraph Diagram Paragraph Paragraph (edited) Wiki page extended paragraph Paragraph with link Wiki page comments on paragraph or page

3. Expo sites What?

Personal publishing

not course related

person-focused

Functions

Blogs and wikis

People relations

3. Expo sites How?

For details, see:

LTU Technology Taster article: Blogs, Wikis and e-Portfolios in Blackboard

Help file for the blog tool in the BLE (Blackboard): LearningObjects Expo LX

3. Expo sites Why?

e-Portfolios Users: All students Activity: Create a new wiki in your Expo space based on a provided template. Fill in the sections as suggested in the template, and share your portfolio with relevant stakeholders. Interaction: Selected users from within and outside of the institution, e.g. tutors, mentors, colleagues, can follow student progress and leave comments.

3. Expo sites Why?

Personal Websites Users: All students Activity: Tell something about yourself and share this information with all people from your courses/modules (or the wider world) so that they can get to know you better. Interaction: Depending on the student’s decision, invited people can leave comments.

3. Expo sites Why?

Project/Group Sites Users: Groups of students Activity: Your tutor will create one wiki per group and invite all group participants, including experts from other universities. Use this wiki to document your group work. Interaction: Group members create, review and edit information on the wiki. Students from other groups can view the efforts. Tutors and remote experts can comment.