Should Students Blog?
This semester I am teaching both a Systems Analysis and Design class and a Content Management Systems and Portals class. I am encouraging my students to start blogging in both classes for a couple of reasons: 1) professional development, and 2) to become familiar with the technology. The idea has been well received for the most part, but there is some hesitancy related to fear of exposing weaknesses. That is a valid concern, of course. All wise bloggers have proceeded with caution and I applaud my students for thinking it through. I believe, however, that if they can overcome the trepidation that it will work to their advantage.
I pulled together some information for my class on how students at other schools are using social networking in innovative ways. I was surprised to learn that the idea had not propogated as much as I assumed it would have at this point. Nonetheless, I did find a few examples and thought I would pass them along in case anyone else is interested.
Journalism Students and Social Media - http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/02/budding-journalists-use-twitter-blogs-to-open-doors041.html
Life as a student at Ball State University - http://www.bsu.edu/reallife/
Life as a student at Scranton University - http://matrix.scranton.edu/blogs/
20 Reasons Students Should Blog - http://murcha.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/20-reasons-why-students-should-blog/
A Computer Science student, Jason Ernst, showing his enthusiasm for his major - http://www.jasonernst.com/
As usual, there are some quality students nearing graduation with computer programming degrees from Vincennes University. Soon I will be adding some of them to my blog roll. At this point I have been in the field for 16 years and I have never once regretted it. Technology is more exciting than ever and it is gratifying to work with students who share that enthusiasm.
