This document summarizes research on academic blogging. It finds that most academic blogs are single-authored blogs written by academics for an audience of peers. They typically take the form of informal essays commenting on academia and research. While academic blogging expands the dissemination of ideas, the research shows bloggers primarily converse with each other rather than engaging the general public. Academic blogs form interconnected communities rather than a cohesive online forum for broader debate.
Part of a writing course, this slide show outlines a way to analyse the beginning of a journal article, and then use talk to develop the focus on the contribution
Part of a writing course, this slide show outlines a way to analyse the beginning of a journal article, and then use talk to develop the focus on the contribution
Effective Search Strategies for Health Professionals EducationElizabeth Johns
Session for MEHP students in the Educational Scholars class. These students are medical professionals looking to become educators in the medical field. This session ended up being a little too basic for this level - they understand how to do medical research, they needed more practice in the educational field.
To accompany a patter blog post. patthomson.net The slides address a common problem which people often have after a period of free writing or that they may find when they are reading a paper. These are strategies for the writer to try out.
Caruth, gail d academic dishonesty the question of authorship ijsaid v16 n1...William Kritsonis
Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Editor-in-Chief, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS (Founded 1982). Dr. Kritsonis has served as an elementary school teacher, elementary and middle school principal, superintendent of schools, director of student teaching and field experiences, professor, author, consultant, and journal editor. Dr. Kritsonis has considerable experience in chairing PhD dissertations and master thesis and has supervised practicums for teacher candidates, curriculum supervisors, central office personnel, principals, and superintendents. He also has experience in teaching in doctoral and masters programs in elementary and secondary education as well as educational leadership and supervision. He has earned the rank as professor at three universities in two states, including successful post-tenure reviews.
One of the graduation requirements: Having a research paper based on dissertation published or have obtained an acceptance of publication by a peer reviewed journal or conference proceeding
Climb to success
Begin
No return
Dream big
Reach the top
Success
Effective Search Strategies for Health Professionals EducationElizabeth Johns
Session for MEHP students in the Educational Scholars class. These students are medical professionals looking to become educators in the medical field. This session ended up being a little too basic for this level - they understand how to do medical research, they needed more practice in the educational field.
To accompany a patter blog post. patthomson.net The slides address a common problem which people often have after a period of free writing or that they may find when they are reading a paper. These are strategies for the writer to try out.
Caruth, gail d academic dishonesty the question of authorship ijsaid v16 n1...William Kritsonis
Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Editor-in-Chief, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS (Founded 1982). Dr. Kritsonis has served as an elementary school teacher, elementary and middle school principal, superintendent of schools, director of student teaching and field experiences, professor, author, consultant, and journal editor. Dr. Kritsonis has considerable experience in chairing PhD dissertations and master thesis and has supervised practicums for teacher candidates, curriculum supervisors, central office personnel, principals, and superintendents. He also has experience in teaching in doctoral and masters programs in elementary and secondary education as well as educational leadership and supervision. He has earned the rank as professor at three universities in two states, including successful post-tenure reviews.
One of the graduation requirements: Having a research paper based on dissertation published or have obtained an acceptance of publication by a peer reviewed journal or conference proceeding
Climb to success
Begin
No return
Dream big
Reach the top
Success
Uberisation of writing symposium, QPR April 2016Pat Thomson
a contribution to a symposium, raising questions about the various actions that might taken to address the variable quality of writing support and advice.
From my writing course, a set of four moves that underpin many journal articles in the social sciences and humanities. Accompanies a blog post on patthomson.net
A guide to blogging in academia: what blogs are, why you might want to create one, how you'd go about it, and tips to it well.
A workshop for the Learning & Teaching Forum at the University of York, delivered by Ned Potter and Simon Davis.
This presentation has been used to guide workshops on research and academic writing conventions for upperclassman and first-year graduate students. However, it could be adapted for a first and second year student audience. The content is rich, emphasizing reflection, research/inquiry, as well as grammar. This material also demonstrates how to use new media as part of an overall research strategy. The presentation is designed to be presented interactively with writers across the disciplines, multilingual writers, and any writer unfamiliar with the academic writing process. The content is not linear, as many slides could be clipped and customized for integration into a first-year writing course, or even a session or workshop for graduate student writers of any classification.
Center of Digital Learning Workshop (November 2013) - Blogging in Higher Educ...Michael Barbour
Barbour, M. K. (2013, November). Blogging in higher education: A tool for student engagement and personal development. A presentation to the Sacred Heart University's Center of Digital Learning, Fairfield, CT.
Joint presentation by David Kernohan and Viv Rolfe at #OER16 Conference in Edinburgh 2016. They took a critical look at the open education publishing community including some interesting insights into citation metrics.
POSC 100 Current Event Reflection Paper Rubric Criteri.docxharrisonhoward80223
POSC 100 Current Event Reflection Paper Rubric
Criteria Distinguished Proficient Basic Unacceptable
Completeness Complete in every area;
includes all requirements
Mostly complete;
includes most of the
requirements
Mostly incomplete,
includes few of the
requirements
Incomplete in almost
every area; does not
include requirements
Critical Thinking Displays exceptional
critical thinking; uses
class material and
utilizes sophisticated,
original ideas to develop
arguments
Displays advanced
critical thinking; uses
class material and uses
original ideas to develop
arguments
Displays limited critical
thinking; uses some class
material and some
original ideas to develop
arguments
Displays little critical
thinking; uses limited
class material and does
not use original ideas to
develop arguments
Evaluation & Analysis Presents exceptional
analysis of identified
issues; thoroughly
evaluates the issues
Presents sufficient
analysis of identified
issues; evaluates the
issues
Presents little analysis of
identified issues;
provides a vague
evaluation
Presents almost no
analysis of identified
issues
Understanding Demonstrates an
advanced understanding
of the topic(s) and
issue(s)
Demonstrates an above
average understanding of
the topic(s) and issue(s)
Demonstrates a basic
understanding of the
topic(s) and issue(s)
Demonstrates an
inadequate understanding
of the topic(s) and
issue(s)
Writing Mechanics Writing is clear, concise,
and well-organized
without grammatical
errors or typos
Writing is mostly clear
and generally organized
with few grammatical
errors or typos
Writing is somewhat
clear but is not well
organized and has many
grammatical errors or
typos
Writing is unclear and
very disorganized with
many grammatical errors
or typos
12/22/2017 Communication Today | Critical Thinking and the Challenges of Internet | Communication Today
http://www.communicationtoday.sk/critical-thinking-and-the-challenges-of-internet/ 1/2
C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G A N D T H E C H A L L E N G E S O F I N T E R N E T
Critical Thinking and
the Challenges of
Internet
A L E X A N D E R P L E C N E R I S S U E : 2 / 2 0 1 4 , S E C T I O N : T H E O R E T I C A L
S T U D I E S
In this article, the author addresses some challenges to information
searches and information evaluation which were brought by the
Internet. Large segments of audience are exaggerating their
awareness and do not realize that their online behavior is driven
more by emotions than by critical assessment of primary sources.
The result is growing popularity of conspiracy theories,
pseudoscience, propaganda, and alternative medicine. These are
all examples of biased reasoning. Due to scientists, scholars,
teachers, and journalists, this trend can be considered as a potential
threat to public health and democracy. Publics incapable of
informed choices can be manipulated to sup.
Academic Research in the Blogosphere: Adapting to New Risks and Opportunities...Richard Littauer
This was a talk given at the Digital Humanities 2012 conference in Hamburg by Michael Pleyer, a coauthor on the paper and on the blog ReplicatedTypo.com.
A presentation to my school, presenting blogging as an introduction to developing a personal learning network. Version 2 updated with a few little bits and a thankyou to my PLN.
Essay #2 Proposing a SolutionIn ClassFor this essay, you.docxrusselldayna
Essay #2: Proposing a
Solution
In Class:
For this essay, your task is to propose a realistic, thoughtful solution to a problem that affects you or someone you know.
This could be a large scale problem (such as profound national frustration with our electoral system) or a smaller scale
problem (such as a general lack of exciting social life for students who live on campus). While you might need to provide
some “proof ” that your problem is really a problem, the bulk of your argument should aim to convince your reader that your solution is
a very good option for all parties involved.
As you begin drafting in class, your goal should be to produce 2-4 pages of thoughtful prose that:
• briefly introduces your chosen problem and the stakes (why the problem needs to be addressed)
• proposes a realistic and fair minded solution (it could actually work, and people would likely accept it)
• develops 1-3 supporting points for your argument (research sources optional for the first draft)
• pays close attention to the basic features as outlined in SMG
Feel free to use the following template for effective structure:
• an intro paragraph that describes your problem and solution and gives your reader a reason to care
• 1-3 body paragraphs that develop individual points of support
• a brief conclusion that wraps up your argument
First draft requirements:
• To receive full credit for this portion of essay #1, your in-class draft must be at least one full page.
• Our purpose is not to produce final draft quality writing at this phase. Just start by getting your ideas on paper, for
now.
Subsequent Drafts:
Now that you have a basic argument on paper, continue to develop and focus your argument. Feel free to bring this draft
to office hours. Be sure to improve your draft prior to the peer review workshop, to help you produce a solid final draft.
Peer Review Requirements:
Bring three copies for peer-review. This draft should preferably be a full draft, but must be at least 3-4 pages. If you’re
short of 4-5 full pages, include a well-developed outline for the rest of your argument.
Final Draft Requirements:
• 4-5 pages of cleanly written, well-organized, lucid, insightful prose
• 2-4 scholarly or credible sources, with ALL borrowed words and information appropriately cited.
• MLA format (double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, etc.) incl. Works Cited page
• Submit via SafeAssign, and turn in all invention work and drafts with your final draft
Additional Tips:
• Most any problem you choose can provide options for effective use of research, though you might need to be
inventive in identifying relevant, useful research sources. I’m happy to provide suggestions for research, if you like.
• Remember that opposing viewpoints are not just bowling pins to knock down—your overall solution must account
for major potential objections, rather than ignoring them or hoping your reader won’t notice (for instance, if you
propose to solve climat.
Blog AnalysisDiscussions play an integral role in monitoring y.docxmoirarandell
Blog Analysis
Discussions play an integral role in monitoring your course participation throughout the term. You should check back to the weekly discussions multiple times throughout the week to engage in the discussion with your professor and peers. Participation is only counted during the week in which this discussion is assigned. Be sure to appropriately cite any sources you use to support your responses with standard APA citations. Answer the prompt question(s) thoroughly using a minimum of 150-200 words
Discussion Question:
Since you have been reading about blog composition, find a blog you enjoy and analyze it. Then, post:
1. The name of the blog with a hyperlink (not a pasted URL).
2. Your analysis. Consider aspects we’ve covered in class such as content, audience, and visual appeal. What works? What doesn’t? Why?
Audience Analysis Assignment
Find a blog you enjoy online, or consider examining the blog you are working on, to perform an audience analysis. Answer the following in order to illustrate your understanding of audience when composing a blog:
What are the Audience’s Demographics?
· Age
· Gender
· Location
· Relationship status
· Sexual orientation
· Income
· Family
· Education level
· Race
· Ethnicity
· Religion
· Occupation
What are the Audience’s Expectations or Needs?
· What do they know about the topic?
· Are there any misconceptions about the topic? What can they expect to learn?
· What are their current beliefs about this issue?
· What tone or reading level does the audience expect when they read this?
· How can you encourage audience interaction with the blog?
Visual Aid Assignment
In the blog lecture, you read about the importance of visual aids in an online space. Write up a proposal about what visual aid you intend to use for your blog including:
· Include a link or paste in the visual.
· What type of visual it is (picture, infographic, graph, video, etc.)?
· How does this visual add clarity or credibility to your blog?
· How does the visual benefit the audience or add understanding to your post?
· What made you choose this visual over the other aids you looked into?
Writing for Non-Academic Audiences
Writing for General, Non-Academic Audiences: Benefits, Opportunities, Issues (Links to an external site.)
SEPTEMBER 12, 2017
AUTHOR: SCOTT MONTGOMERY (Links to an external site.)
First Things
1. Why Write for the Public?
Social scientists investigate and write about society. It therefore makes sense that they share this important work with those whom they study, including decision-makers. In truth, the public is very interested in what social science disciplines have to say—about politics, foreign policy, history, economics, area studies, studies of society, culture, and language. People are more aware of how relevant and important knowledge is in these fields than ever before.
A key reason is that they know or sense the world has entered a period of major uncertainty. Major challenges to liberal democracy.
Sabbatical (Massey University) - Using Blogs in Higher Education: Both as a P...Michael Barbour
Barbour, M. K. (2011, April). Using blogs in higher education: Both as a personal development tool and to enhance student learning and engagement. An invited presentation to the National Centre for Teaching and Learning at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
This is my talk, "Your Daily History of Science: Blogging a Discipline," given as part of the education session focusing on the internet for the History of Science Society annual meeting in Phoenix, AZ, November 19-22, 2009.
cultural citizenship and arts educationPat Thomson
reporting results from the TALE research - how arts rich schools and arts broker teachers, with the support of cultural organisations, can support students to be critical appreciative audiences and active cultural producers.
A slide show about questions and issues that a writer needs to take into account when writing the text that accompanies papers. The show is designed for PhD students that are undertaking a PhD by publication.
Participatory, Open Ended and Inclusive Music Education. Lessons Learned from...Pat Thomson
The research presented here is a case study of a music education programme based on a participatory approach, and introduced in a community after-school centre in Praga–Południe, an underprivileged district of Warsaw. The main principles of the applied approach were having an open-ended learning process and practical curriculum-making (Elliott, 1995). The children were offered free access to a variety of music instruments. The main research methods were participant observation, auto-ethnography and free-form interviews. The research was conducted from June to November 2017, the research team consisted of 4 people: 2 music educators and 2 music sociologists. The participants in the study were children attending music lessons (age group 7-14, with a slight predominance of 10-and-less year olds). The study does not provide sufficient data for general conclusions about the influence of the applied music education model on social behaviours, nevertheless, a strong correlation between the participant’s overall emotional disposition and the preferred kind of musical expression was observed.
What the tale survey shows about the importance of the arts in schoolPat Thomson
These slides show the comparison between students in the TALE research and their peers who responded to the national Taking Part survey. More information is available on researchtale.net
What young people say about studying the artsPat Thomson
These slides report what young people in secondary and special schools toid us about their reasons for choosing arts subjects. The full report is on researchtale.net
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
2. why look at academic blogging
Many universities now have official blog sites
There is a league table of university social media use
Academics are now being told how they must use social media,
including blogs:
• UK - how to do downloadable booklets, and workshops
• Australia - as above, but also some concerns about regulation
(a moral panic?)
There are a lot of 'unofficial' academic blogs
What’s going on here?
3. Blogs communicate with others, right?
Quote:
Why academics should blog
3. The point of academia is to expand knowledge!
If you believe that the reason academics publish is to expand knowledge, then expanding
it beyond the few tens or hundreds of your colleagues that read the obscure journals you
publish in should be a good thing. Your ideas should matter (if they don't you should
try to come up with some better ideas). If they matter then more people should know
about them, and right now almost all your ideas are locked up inside the walls of
journals, academic conferences, and university quadrangles. Set them free, and the good
ideas will spread, be built on by others, and knowledge as a whole will benefit.!
!
4. Blogging expands your readership!
Cross-pollination of ideas makes for a more healthy intellectual ecosystem, and blogging
means that anyone, not just those in your discipline, will be likely to read your stuff.
This includes other academics, as well as the rest of us (politicians, policy
developers, artists, engineers, designers, writers, thinkers, kids, parents, and on and
on). Anyone might have an interest in your work, or nuanced ideas about how it might be
improved, or indeed thoughts on how your thoughts might improve their own thinking on a
particular (perhaps nominally-unrelated) topic. More readers, from a more varied
background, means your ideas will have a bigger impact.!
Hugh Maguire. Huff Post 28/10/2008
4. What to ask about blogs?
Weller (2012, p. 5) offers a set of quality oriented questions e.g. are they 'proper
scholarship'? What is their impact on academic communities?
Hank (2012) looked at who was blogging - she collected 644 blogs, surveyed 153
bloggers, interviewed 24, codes 93 blogs, looked for motivation and
preservation issues
Walker (2006) examined own practices over time
Ewins (2005) looked at motivation, identity issues and potential work difficulties
and pay offs
Gregg (2005) looked at blogs as support for doctoral researchers who have
inadequate institutional support and supervision, (b) as mentoring and job
seeking support, and (c) as a space distinct from the parent culture of
institutions, and (d) blogs as a form of individualized self-promotion.
5. There is research into blogging
There is research into blogs from
subject specific interests eg
journalism, linguistics and
communications, cultural studies
There is research which looks at
blogging with pedagogical
purposes: how to use a blog as
part of a course
There are of course a lot of blogs
about blogging - advocacy and
experience-based
But there is still very little research
looking at academic blogging per
se
6. Our questions about academic
blogs:
What is going on?
Who is blogging about what, and for whom?
And this means:
Is there a way of categorising academic blogs?
…recognising that textual analysis is only part of 'seeing’ production-
reception practice
7. Our sample
We used three selection criteria for an 'academic blog':
• A blog is published and read online
• A blog has sequential entries, published over time
• The blog entries are written by someone either working
in or clearly associated with one or more universities
Selection process: modified snowball technique
Total blogs in sample: 174 so far
This is a preliminary analysis of 83 of these blogs
9. Who is blogging?
In the analysis presented here:
36% bloggers had no clear allegiance; 42% were Humanities scholars
and 22% bloggers were from Sciences
The majority of blogs (66%) were written by academics; (23%) by
professional staff members and the rest were unclear.
28% of the blogs had multiple authors.
49% of the blogs were from the UK; 39% from the USA and the rest
from Canada and Australia.
10. Who was the intended audience?
In most cases, the intended audience is implied in the topic and
tone of the post, not explicitly stated in the about section.
The vast majority of blogs (95%) appear to be oriented to an
academic audience*
Only 5% of the blogs seemed to be explicitly aimed at
disseminating research to the interested general public and
4% at students.
Most academic blogs seem to be written for an audience of
the blogger's peers
11. What are they blogging about?
So far we have identified 11 different categories of post (the
percentage shows the number of blogs such posts
appeared on):
Academic culture Critique (41%)
Research conversation (40%)
Academic Practices (32%)
Information (26%)
Self Help (17%)
Technical practices (15%)
Personal reflection (8%)
Teaching advice (5%)
Career advice (1%)
12. What 'voice' are they using?
The last 5 entries of each blog were reviewed. Most
employed 'hybrid' genres; the three genres we
identified were:
Pedagogic ('teacherly')
Essay (formal and informal or reflective)
Reportage
Informal or reflective essays were most common;
reportage was least common, but more blogs (75%)
employed mixed genre than single genre.
13. What does a typical academic blog
look like?
Based on these data, blogs with the highest cue
validity (Roche, 1978) would be those which are:
• Single authored
• Written by someone in an academic position
• Engaged in commentary on academia itself and
research dissemination with an informal essay
voice
• Written for an audience of the blogger's peers
14. So what?
(1) Comparatively few academics blog. Many academic blogs,
like all others, are ephemeral. There are relatively few long-
lasting blogs. Institutional commitment might be one way of
creating sustainability, but long-life academic bloggers are
creating a body of work and there needs to be some way of
treating it as such, not just as a series of isolated posts.
(2) Pedagogic blogs can be seen as a gift economy. Critique is
of course also a kind of 'gift'. There is sharing of information
rather than collaboration.There is however certainly a lot of
self-promotion which is congruent with practice in the wider
academic field
15. And…more surprisingly
(3) Academic bloggers seem to largely talk to each other. This is not a
place where there seems to be a lot of 'public engagement'. There are
of course some areas of overlap with practice fields ( e.g. school
education) and some from celebrity academics all of whose publications
attract a wide audience. But there is less translation than might be
expected if it was public engagement or dissemination to the public
more generally. There is an assumption that the audience is 'like me'.
Dissemination seems more like a conversation, with a lot of assumed
knowledge. This is not dissimilar to the 'message' of a journal article,
but blogs are journal-lite.
(4) But the presence of so much discussion about impact and changing
work patterns in HE suggests blogs do exist in some kind of public
sphere in which asynchronous debate could be said to exist. There is
less evidence of 'dialogue'. However it is evidence of an inward looking
practice.
16. We concur with Dean (2012) that there is a 'blogipelago'
not a blogosphere. Academics seem to exist on their own
set of islands, largely talking with each other. Their blogs
are evidence of this. While this is still a public good, it
raises questions about assumptions that blogging is a
means of generating public debate.
17. We welcome comments: patricia.thomson@nottingham.ac.uk
Please cite this as a conference paper “ Social media: an academic
public good” Thomson, P and Mewburn, I ( December 14, 2012) SRHE
conference, Newport, Wales.