From M/Cyclopedia of New Media
Sub-topics
Annoted Bibliography
Topic: Education Blogging and Case Studies
1
Callan, P. and C. Cleary. 2005. Digital Repositories at Queensland University of Technology, in Huthwaite, Ann, Eds. Managing Information in the Digital Age: ATN libraries respond to the challenge, chapter 1, pages 1-13. University of South Australia Library for Librarians of the Australian Technology Network: Adelaide. ISBN 1920927255
- This chapter provides details about Queensland University of Technology (QUT) as the key development of digital repositories. There are several case studies and further research within QUT digital environment such as QUT ePrints, Course Materials Database (CMD), Flexiprint and etc. The authors focus on the development of digital repositories in QUT since 2000. The chapter also explains how QUT writers and scholars submit their essays to QUT digital repositories, as well as students using the CMD flexible access for 24 hours, seven days a week. Students studying in QUT, on-campus or off-campus, have the benefits of high quality and flexible study as these QUT online resources are available to them anytime, anywhere. Even lecture notes, copyrighted database, library catalogue and required readings are available through QUT Virtual. Huge amount of investment is used for providing the open access of these resources from digital environment which allows people inside and outside QUT to exchange intellectual properties, while improve the standards of the university. This is a great case study about e-learning environment in QUT. Although the paper has not written about all the QUT online access in details, the paper is worth to gain understanding of the main key developments of QUT e-learning.
2
Delaney, K. J. 2004. Classroom Use of Web Logs Raises Concern. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), New York, N.Y.: October 27, 2004, p. B.1. (accessed August 5, 2005, from ProQuest database).
- This short journal reflects on the issue raised among schools about the concerns using web logs. Richardson has a lot of students using weblogs to submit their assignments and Michael Lackner implements blogs in Magnolia Elementary School's education curriculum. Both Richardson and Michael Lackner oversee the issues but also mention that these issues and concerns could be fix easily. Harford Country Public Schools do not adapt to using blogs in their education curriculum because they have serious concerns about their students using blogs; exposing to too much unhealthy information for students that would lead to the wrong track as well as the privacy of the students would most probably be exposed. However, Lackner mentioned that this technology problem could be easily solved, Richardson’s school has their own blog system and applying passwords in their blogs to maintain privacy security, where only students and teachers with the password can view the blogs. The journal is not strongly argue but this is somehow an overview of the concerns in education blogging.
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Downes, S. 2004. Educational Blogging. EDUCAUSE Review, 39 (5). http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0450.asp (accessed August 4, 2005).
- As education blogging arise, Downes has written this paper to record and study about blogging in education field. Downes is a senior researcher with the E-learning Research Group, National Research Council Canada, Moncton, New Brunswick. The different aspects of blogging are mentioned in his paper. He quotes some sentences by the students of St. Joseph, who are experiencing the use of blogging in their studies more than normal students. He also writes about Will Richardson in brief of what Richardson thinks about blogging. Moreover, Downes has also included Crooked Timber’s Henry Farrell “five major uses for blogs in education.�? There are some technical explanations to set up blog. The journal is an interesting piece of writing while getting the readers gaining more understanding about educational blogging.
4
Partridge, H and S Edwards. 2005. Establishing the IT Student’s Perspective to e-Learning: Preliminary Findings from a Queensland University of Technology Case Study. In Proceedings Informing Science and Information Technology Education joint conference, Flagstaff, Arizona. (accessed on August 6, 2005 from QUT ePrints database).
- This paper is an in-depth study of ITB332, a unit from Bachelor of Information Technology, Queensland University of Technology. Both authors are the lecturers in the Faculty of Information Technology and are rewarded several teaching and learning awards throughout their teaching life. They coordinate ITB332 – an elective in the faculty, as their case study as they try to meet the top priority of the university. The students are asked to participate in the practical implementation of putting e-learning into the teaching plan in this unit. The results of the unit also help to explain the learning theory and support the conclusion that has been made. In conclusion, this unit is not perfectly coordinated; the authors also suggested a few improvement options for this unit in the future. The paper provides real-time case study, theories of learning scope in the mixture of e-learning and face-to-face learning environment. Readers who are interested in understanding how the lecturers in QUT try to meet the university’s priorities- providing students a flexible and productive study plan; an e-learning unit to provide flexibility would likely to read this conference paper.
5
Potier, B. 2003. Berkman Center Fellow Dave Winer Wants to Get Harvard Blogging. Harvard Gazette, April 17, 2003. http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2003/04.17/13-blogging.html (accessed August 5, 2005).
- Dave Winer is the person who created the software for weblog and implemented the software in Harvard Law School, is also a Berkman Center person. Winer tried to influence Harvard University to adapt to this media in the early of 2002. Now Harvard blog has been set up - Harvard Law School - Blog . There is also a brief about Winer’s personal web site. This article briefly mentioned about Dave Winer and his counter experiences. The article might not be very helpful in the case about education blogging, the research are more to be found.
6
Richardson, W. 2004. Blogging and RSS. Multimedia & Internet@Schools, 11 (1), 10. (accessed August 5, 2005 from ProQuest).
- Richardson’s article explains what is blogging, how powerful Rich Site Summary/ Real Simple Syndication (RSS) is and how blogging can assist the educators. There are a lot of examples given by Richardson on how different teachers use the blogs to help them teaching their students. For example, a teacher from Ohio uses an audioblogs to assist her students in learning pronunciation skill. Another example, students begin to use blogging to create their digital portfolio. With RSS technical skill, Richardson has also provided a concise instruction about how RSS works. The blog is now a boom in education sphere, by carrying out practical blogging and examples, this article is worth reading about education blogging.
(Note: This link to the article is a replacement due to unaccessable to the link provided by ProQuest.)
7
Richardson, W. 2005. New Jersey High School Learns the ABCs of Blogging. T.H.E. Journal, 32 (11): 40. (accessed August 4, 2005 from ProQuest).
- This journal article is giving details about how the author came up with the idea of developing weblog in education in Hunterdon Central Regional High School (HCRHS), New Jersey. Will Richardson is an education advocate and the supervisor of communication and instructional technology of HCRHS. He started a weblog for his students to have online discussion about a literature book - The Secret Life of Bees, making the students aware of their audiences and think more critically when writing. Richardson wrote how the weblog is helping the students and teachers in HCRHS to have online collaborations. Even parents who were always concerned for their children could know what their children are learning in the school via reading the classes’ weblogs. He also provided a few options of setting up a weblog. His experiences in setting up weblogs for education purpose have contributed to the education blogging society which is growing very fast. A helpful case study for researchers, students and educators to read about education blogging.
(Note: This link to the article is a replacement due to unaccessable to the link provided by ProQuest.)
8
Stiller, G. M. and T. Philleo. 2003. Blogging and Blogspots: An Alternative Format for Encouraging Reflective Practice Among Preservice Teachers. Education, 123(4), 789-798. (accessed August 4, 2005 via EBSCOhost: Academic Search Elite database).
- The paper examines the component of weblogs for journal keeping. The preservice students are meant to be keeping a journal about their development in their course. However, the results from using traditional journal such as writing were inadequate. So, alternative options are suggested. Blogging is a new exploration, apart from the differences between the traditional media and new media, the students are also not familiar with this tool. A survey was made to know if the students think blogging is easy and flexible tool or others. The results of the survey were the students were somewhat satisfy with using weblogs as a way of keeping journal, but most of them would not or unsure about incorporate weblog in their teaching. The authors are writing for Department of Teacher Education, University of Southern Indiana. They conclude that web-journal could be used, yet need considerations about privacy, teaching and learning experiences of using weblog. The research paper is looking for the advantages and new perception away from traditional media, integrating new media – weblog, into education field.
9
Toner, M. 2004. ‘Blogs’ help Educators Share Ideas, Air Frustrations. Education Week, 23 (18), 8. (accessed August 4, 2005 from ProQuest: Academic Research Library)
- A teacher who has a personal journal online is being questioned about her emotional status of being a teacher. The journal online was somehow an observatory area of the writer. However, the blogs are shared by most of the first-year teachers; they published their journal online, sharing ideas and getting advices from professional field. Even the writers and their audiences have never met each other, they still be able to maintain interactivity online, exchanging suggestions and sharing different perspective all around the world. The insight view of the educators, using blogs as their media to communicate with the outside world, who share the same occupation as them. A nice article that gives a perception from the teachers.
10
Young. C. and J. Stokker. 2001. Course materials database: integrating information resources into online teaching for students at QUT. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 32(3). (accessed August 4, 2005 from QUT ePrints database).
- Carolyn Young is the associate director of the Library Service (Information Resources) of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Judy Stokker is the lending service co-ordinator of QUT. The paper is about the Course Materials Database (CMD) project held in QUT. The CMD is an important resource for both educators and students in QUT, with plenty of information and resources related to the course, such as lecture notes, units required readings, highly demanded readings, and past exam papers. The paper outlines the project, resources, issues, benefits and what has been learnt. The writers bring the readers into the whole idea of CMD and how successful CMD has been. Moreover, this paper providing organised paragraphs in differnet headings that allow the readers to understand more easily. QUT has been one of the key developments in integrating online learning on campus, with different development within the university. The university has now built up CMD, making another step closer to the university’s priorities. The observer-to-participant in this project is has much credibility as they understand their subject very deeply.
