Since early 2001 several institutions and many individual teachers have
incorporated blogging
into their online pedagogical strategies. During this time, weblog (blog)
publishing
technologies have evolved towards accessibility and ease of use and the technological
barriers
preventing adoption have, to a degree, dissolved. Blogs and their associated
technologies are
arguably heralding the most significant technological development in online
teaching and
learning since the introduction of enterprise level Learning Management Systems
(LMS)
(Downes 2004).
This development is all the more significant as a result of the communication
dynamics
inherent within blog technologies. Whereas an LMS stores and presents all
information on a
centralised and hierarchical basis, bound within the subject and the organisation,
blogs are
distributed, aggregated, open and independent. Through the use of blogs,
it is suggested that
teachers and learners are becoming empowered, motivated, reflective and connected
practitioners in new knowledge environments. The balance between individualised
and
centralised technologies is restored.
The application of weblogs in an education setting will, at best, have a limited impact if due consideration of these developing communication dynamics are ignored. This paper includes a brief review of some of the institutional and individual blog projects that are taking place in higher education. In doing so it examines the different types of blog environments that are being used in terms of their communication dynamics and subsequent impact upon teachers, learners and pedagogy. Further, a more detailed examination is made of the use of blogs in teaching and learning in courses at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). In light of these studies and examination, possible approaches to implementing blogs in institutional settings are outlined in the form of an alternative Online Learning Environment. In addition, a study to be undertaken in 2006 examining the impact of blogs on teaching and learning at Deakin University will be described.