Mobilizing Faculty into the Future: Using Online Technology as Teaching Tools
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Methodology 2 - Process:<br />
The Humanities cl<strong>as</strong>s meets once each week on Monday night for 3 hours. On <strong>the</strong> Wednesday following a cl<strong>as</strong>s meeting,<br />
<strong>the</strong> instructor posts <strong>the</strong> latest blog entry. Students have until <strong>the</strong> following Monday before cl<strong>as</strong>s to view <strong>the</strong> entry,<br />
read <strong>the</strong>ir cl<strong>as</strong>smates’ comments, and post <strong>the</strong>ir own entries.<br />
The instructor locates materials through leads in <strong>the</strong> New York Times Arts Section and articles written in <strong>the</strong> New<br />
Yorker Magazine.<br />
Methodology 3 – Practical Issues:<br />
The instructor uses <strong>the</strong> Blogspot.com platform for <strong>the</strong> blog. While <strong>the</strong> blog link is public, <strong>the</strong> site is not listed for<br />
Google searches and, <strong>the</strong>refore, seldom attracts activity beyond <strong>the</strong> cl<strong>as</strong>s for which it is designed. This element of<br />
limited privacy makes it e<strong>as</strong>y for <strong>the</strong> instructor to remove student responses at <strong>the</strong> completion of a semester and reuse<br />
particularly effective blog posts. While <strong>the</strong> instructor likes to update <strong>the</strong> entries and post materials addressing<br />
current art issues, she also finds that sometimes a re-post is preferable to cover a given topic. Re-posts in a new semester<br />
can also save <strong>the</strong> instructor personal time during an especially busy week.<br />
Methodology 4 – Effectiveness:<br />
Students respond well to <strong>the</strong> blog posts. They enjoy <strong>the</strong> range of possibilities among artistic expressions and gain<br />
exposure to exhibits and performances from afar. The blog can share very contemporary art events, <strong>as</strong> compared<br />
to textbook entries printed in prior years. Students arrive in cl<strong>as</strong>s and often initiate discussion about <strong>the</strong> blog entry<br />
even before cl<strong>as</strong>s begins. The blog posts provide <strong>the</strong>m a common discussion point that helps students see <strong>the</strong> multiplicity<br />
of approaches <strong>the</strong>y might take to a given source of art. Through exposure to <strong>the</strong>ir various posts, students<br />
teach one ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> value of this broadened perspective.<br />
Student feedback in this sentence completion exercise, obtained at semester end, attests to <strong>the</strong>ir interest.<br />
The best thing about blogging is . . .<br />
o <strong>the</strong> ability to speak freely<br />
o <strong>the</strong> freedom to take time and form an opinion<br />
o you can say what you feel<br />
o it’s e<strong>as</strong>ier to type than say in front of everyone<br />
o I like <strong>the</strong> topics<br />
o finding artists that I haven’t heard about<br />
o learning from o<strong>the</strong>rs’ perspectives<br />
o sharing my thoughts with o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
o anonymity but still having a voice<br />
Methodology 5 – Disadvantages:<br />
The blogspot.com format allows for student posts to be confirmed by e-mail notice to <strong>the</strong> instructor’s mailbox. This<br />
method helps <strong>the</strong> instructor credit points for each student <strong>as</strong> <strong>the</strong> entries accumulate. The method, however, does<br />
take instructor time to document. During <strong>the</strong> first semester <strong>the</strong> blog w<strong>as</strong> created, <strong>the</strong> instructor did not award<br />
points for <strong>the</strong> posts, and predictably fewer students participated. Though mildly time-consuming for <strong>the</strong> instructor,<br />
<strong>the</strong> point method does secure full participation. Plus, a quick review of student comments prior to cl<strong>as</strong>s helps <strong>the</strong> instructor<br />
track <strong>the</strong> tone and temperament of student reactions.<br />
Because <strong>the</strong> blog posts contain digitally rich materials in form of pictures and videos, students need a higher performing<br />
internet link. Oftentimes <strong>the</strong> Chrome browser works best to access blogspot.com, <strong>as</strong> it is ano<strong>the</strong>r platform<br />
within <strong>the</strong> Google family. Microsoft’s Explorer browser is sometimes sluggish about gaining fully operable access.<br />
Additional Information:<br />
The instructor h<strong>as</strong> found that even after students leave her cl<strong>as</strong>s, some will periodically send her e-mails with links<br />
and suggestions for future blog entries. As students come across material that reminds <strong>the</strong>m of <strong>the</strong>ir Humanities<br />
cl<strong>as</strong>s, <strong>the</strong>y generously share.<br />
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