Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?

Submitted by cel4145 on October 4, 2002 - 12:48.

Phillip D. Long has a good introduction to blogging for educators over at Syllabus.

However, I disagree when he describes Slashdot as "a relative of the blogging world." The earliest weblogs were not the journal-like, expressionistic, opinion driven sites which characterize most contemporary individual blogs, but more along the lines of Slashdot and Kairosnews. Since Slashdot turned five this week, which makes it about as old as the term "blogging," it would seem more accurate to position Slashdot as one of the earliest community weblogs.

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Re: Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?

Submitted by jrice on October 4, 2002 - 13:00.

I like that Syllabus is discussing blogs.

I still find that everytime I bring up the issue of weblogs, no one has any idea what I'm talking about.

Here at UDM, no students, faculty, or adjuncts ever heard of a blog before.

Still much work to do to get people to see what blogs are and how they are used.

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Re: Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?

Submitted by cel4145 on October 4, 2002 - 13:36.

Same problem here at FSU. For the most part, knowledge of blogging has come from me promoting it.

Re: Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?

Submitted by jrice on October 4, 2002 - 16:07.

Well - I'm trying to get my students (juniors and seniors) to blog.

They are mostly returning (or so-called returning), African-American, women, and parents.

And they want to be educators as well (all English and Education majors).

To them, the blog is pretty mysterious.

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Re: Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?

Submitted by Clancy on October 5, 2002 - 11:42.

Exactly the same situation here! Out of everyone at my institution, exactly 2 (1 grad student, 1 professor) has heard of blogs. They look at me like I've lost it when I start talking about them.

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Re: Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?

Submitted by Clancy on October 5, 2002 - 11:46.

Oops, I mean "exactly 2 (1 grad student, 1 professor) people have heard of blogs." Duh.

Re: Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?

Submitted by johnsonla on October 5, 2002 - 13:38.

I'm always surprised by the small number of people who know about weblogs, as well, especially since there are some really wonderful ones out there. The Online Learning News Blog is one of my favorites. The possible educational uses are numerous - everything from journaling online to posting announcements, reminders, and schedule changes, a use to which I've put my academic bog in the past.