Weblogs, teen diaries or reflective learning tools? Dr David A Davies Medical Education Unit

A presentation in 4 parts Introduction to weblogs Introduction to weblogs Weblogs in education including ePortfolios as reflective learning tools Weblogs in education including ePortfolios as reflective learning tools Personal content management Personal content management Discussion… Discussion…

Part 1: Introduction to weblogs

What are weblogs? Online journal or diary Online journal or diary Single author Single author Reverse chronological sequence Reverse chronological sequence Simple one-click publishing Simple one-click publishing Simple one-click publishing Simple one-click publishing Syndicated via RSS Syndicated via RSS

Finding interesting weblogs You’re probably already reading some You’re probably already reading some e.g The Guardian weblog e.g The Guardian weblogThe Guardian weblogThe Guardian weblog Search engines Search engines

Managing weblog overload Syndicated RSS news feeds Syndicated RSS news feeds RSS = RDF Site Summary RSS = RDF Site Summary RDF = Resource Description Framework RDF = Resource Description Framework alternatively Really Simple Syndication alternatively Really Simple Syndication Aggregators Aggregators Example NetNewsWire Example NetNewsWire

Starting your own weblog LiveJournal LiveJournal Blogger Blogger Moveable Type Moveable Type TypePad TypePad TinderBox TinderBox Radio Userland Radio Userland

New directions for weblogs Mobile weblogging Mobile weblogging MoblogUK MoblogUK MoblogUK Picture weblogs Picture weblogs Fotolog Fotolog Fotolog Group weblogs Group weblogs Wiki Wiki Wiki

Part 2: Weblogs in education

Weblogs in education Teacher weblogs Teacher weblogs Student weblogs Student weblogs Class weblogs Class weblogs Class weblogs Class weblogs Institutional weblogs Institutional weblogs Institutional weblogs Institutional weblogs

Educational technology weblogs Too many to list! Too many to list! Try searching the MedWeb Ed Tech aggregator Try searching the MedWeb Ed Tech aggregatorMedWeb or Stephen Downes’ EduRSS or Stephen Downes’ EduRSSEduRSS

Weblogs as ePortfolios Characteristics of ePortfolios Characteristics of ePortfolios Reflective learning tool for the student Reflective learning tool for the student Monitoring tool for the institution Monitoring tool for the institution Generates employment opportunities? Generates employment opportunities?

Example weblog ePortfolios Iceland University of Education Iceland University of Education Net based Teaching and Learning Dist. Ed. Net based Teaching and Learning Dist. Ed. Net based Teaching and Learning Net based Teaching and Learning “All students keep a weblog - a learning journal for four months. The journal became one part of the portfolio.” “All students keep a weblog - a learning journal for four months. The journal became one part of the portfolio.” Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler-Gilbert Community College Phoenix, Arizona community colleges Phoenix, Arizona community colleges FDTL4 - Newcastle University undergrad medicine FDTL4 - Newcastle University undergrad medicine

More work needed Develop a reflective learning culture Develop a reflective learning culture Encourage student uptake of weblogs Encourage student uptake of weblogs Closer integration with VLEs Closer integration with VLEs Develop interoperability standards Develop interoperability standards Monitoring of reflective learning Monitoring of reflective learning Validation & accreditation Validation & accreditation

Part 3: Personal content management

Personal content management Manage your stuff Manage your stuff New uses for weblogging tools New uses for weblogging tools Learning content Learning content VLEs VLEs Reusable learning objects & RSS Reusable learning objects & RSS Demo Demo Demo

In summary… Personal publishing revolution Personal publishing revolution Communities of practice Communities of practice Reflective learning Reflective learning Personal/desktop content management Personal/desktop content management

Part 4: Discussion…

Additional information RSS 1.0 and Dublin Core RSS 1.0 and Dublin Core ePortfolios and weblogs: one vision for ePortfolio development David Tosh & Ben Werdmuller, The University of Edinburgh