Blogging for teaching and learning

Thanks to the folks at datamining.com, here is an interactive snapshot of the blogosphere… taken in 2005. Check out the other “maps” that are there as well.

Here too is another visual representation of the blogosphere, made by physicists at Tel Aviv University. <quote>It is a mathematical representation of the pipes, routers and other bits of hardware that ferry data across the web. At the map’s red (gooey?) center there is a cluster of a 100 networks operated by massive corporations like ATT and Google. It’s purple crunchy outer shell is small ISPs. The trouble with being on the periphery is that you must travel through the congested center, sort of like making a plane change in Ohare between NYC and LA. </quote>

So… yes, it looks oh so inefficient…but through such tools as tagging, it is becoming less so. Here is an example of tagging and a digital photo repository to illustrate that point….

The New York Times

CNN

PS2

People Magazine

A definition: (from Wikipedia) Collaborative learning is an umbrella term for a variety of approaches in education that involve joint intellectual effort by students or students and teachers. Collaborative learning refers to methodologies and environments in which learners engage in a common task in which each individual depends on and is accountable to each other. Groups of students work together in searching for understanding, meaning or solutions or in creating an artifact of their learning such as a product. The approach is closely related to cooperative learning. Collaborative learning activities can include collaborative writing, group projects, and other activities.

More definitions:

A Video

Even more definitions:

A website

Presentation on blogging for CTIE

The purpose of this site is to explore how blogs can be used for teaching and learning. This is a work in progress. please check back often. Better still, ask for an account and join in. A blog is only as good as the community that creates it and comments upon it…

Want to jump in and explore?

Email us at languages@oberlin.edu