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Blogging and Improved Learner Engagment


If you have ever scanned the web looking for a recipe, a tutorial on how to do or make something, or looked for travel advice, you’ve probably come across someone’s blog. In my own life, I have used a blog to connect with people who share my interest in crafts, and have created tutorials on how to make different crafty projects. The positive feedback from people around the world gave me confidence. Their advice in the comments helped me grow as an artist. Also, their links to other creators helped me see work from others’ viewpoints and introduced me to new techniques.

Using blogging in education can be just as valuable for students in a more formal educational setting, especially older students and adults. Having students blog for a particular activity or assignment can do many things. First, blogging gives students the opportunity to work together. Blogging does not have to be a solitary activity. Groups of students can come together and share their wealth of knowledge on a blog. Students can have their own pages or create blog entries together. Some could be responsible for creating video or photo content while others may be more interested in the written word. Nedeva and Nedev (2010) call a blog a “democratic learning space” because of its openness and freedom to hear from a multitude of voices both professional and amatuer (p. 164).

Blogging can also allow students to explore their personal interests as well. Writing and connecting to something they already love can help students feel mastery and ownership of their learning. John Spencer, an educator, created a video on how to start students blogging and shared with some of the benefits. Take a look at his video here. Mohamad (2023) believes that using blogs with students shifts the paradigm from instructivism to constructivism.  Constructivism creates pathways for students to connect learning to things they enjoy.



References

Mohamad, S. K., Tasir, Z., & Yusof, I. J. (2023). The Effect of Reflection through Educational 

Blogging on Students’ Learning Performance. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 22, 429–459. https://doi.org/10.28945/5209

Nedeva, V., & Nedev, D. (2010). A new approach of e-learning education using blogging. 

Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Educational Sciences Series, 62(1B), 162–169. 

Resources

For more information about the benefits of blogging in the classroom, check out these resources.

John Spencer. (2021, November 30). Getting Started with Blogging (A Prompt for Students) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjkx1EbEUJM

Poth, R. D. (2020). Blogging. Cc_By. https://edtechbooks.org/k12handbook/blogging

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