According to Alessi & Trollip (2001) there are many general factors which constitute well designed software for learning. The following is an analysis of the structure of this website based on the presented factors.
Blogger.com uses hyperlinks as menus, presenting available tasks both on the left and top frames. Help is available through the top navigation bar of hyperlinks. The help link opens a new window/tab while providing hierarchical navigation to select help topics. User control includes not only the content and format of posted material but also of the space in which the text is presented. Once into an individual blog, menus are presented consistently and provide easy navigation between desired tasks.
Attention is directed through boxing, text size, capitalization, alternative typefacing, and color. Text quality is lean and to the point allowing for easy assimilation of the program. Graphics and images are only placed where necessary and are very limited.
From the basic control and interface standpoint of Alessi & Trollip, Blogger.com contains many of the necessary factors.
Alessi, S. & Trollip, S. (2001). Multimedia for learning: methods and development. 3rd Edition. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
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3 comments:
Marvin -
I liked your summary of how things work - it actually answered one of the questions that I have been trying to figure out :)
Jody
Interesting use of Blogger.
Do you know of any articles where Blogger is being used as an educational tool? I think I remember one but cannot think of it at the moment.
The concept of web-based learning is interesting since it uses so many tools such as Blogger. Would you consider Blogger to be a Web 2.0 tool?
Although I have not received the article referenced below, yet, its abstract indicated that "Ms. Fizzle" has successfully used blogger to demonstrate teaching skills, discuss emerging classroom and academic issues, and build a professional support structure. However, the allocation of time needed to support the new relationships can be large.
I am now reading "How to Write a Lot" by Silvia (1976). Silvia showed the importance of allocating time to write. Just as we schedule time to teach our courses, exercise, and wash our clothes people who want to be (and are) good writers set a schedule for writing and maintain it devoutly. Blogging is an activity that, if scheduled, may help those of us academics who have difficulty finding the time to write build a writing routine.
Luehmann, A. (2008, July 1). Using Blogging in Support of Teacher Professional Identity Development: A Case Study. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 17(3), 287-337.
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