The purpose of this blog is to give you, the students, the opportunity to share your thoughts, assignments, and projects with each other and perhaps the world. It is a classroom blog to begin with, however if you want to start your own blog we can certainly talk about that! The blog will be the hub of collaboration and sharing for our class. You will also comment on the work of your classmates. Finally the blog will become a repository of your good ideas.
We will learn some cool easy Web 2.0 tools to help you complete assignments and projects. You may already know some and can teach me! Eventually, with your own blog or using something like Google docs, you can begin to create an eportfolio of your work. This blog is different from our BB site because it allows you to embed projects, comment directly on other's work, read postings from guests, and more. There will be plenty of guidelines for you to follow and information on how, when, why, etc. So don't freak out! We will ease into it and I promise it will enhance your learning and not just take time away from your studies.
Take the survey on web tools (posted on BB) and watch the following video. Go to the "Tips for Blogging" page here and then share your thoughts (via comments below) on your reaction to using a blog in our class by answering the following questions: Have you blogged before? How do you think it might be helpful? What is your biggest concern? What might be fun about blogging here?
Let's get started!
Blogs in Plain English:
I have never really blogged before, however I have heard a significant amount of details about it. I am excited to finally experience it for myself. It sounds very interesting, because it gives the blogger a chance to be the writer/editor and also the reader at the same time. In addition, it allows for someone to spark a conversation or argument through feedback with another blogger or with "community bloggers". My biggest concern is being technologically challenged! Clearly a hurdle I must overcome.
ReplyDelete- Robbie Mousselli
I have never had my own Blog. However, I have read several blogs and I think that blogging is a great way to share information with others. I am pretty excited to learn how to use all of these tools. My concern would be that some may not have access to a computer when necessary. However, I think this Blog will be a great way to create a tight knit group of students.
ReplyDelete-Liliana Velasco
I have never blogged before. Blogging can be a great way to study and learn from each others questions. my concern would be not being able to have reliable internet service! By using Blog. I think that the class will be more open to any kind of discussion. We'll most likely form more friendships and study groups.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time blogging. I am excited to see the outcome of this. I feel like blogging will help students come out of their shells and share their opinions.
ReplyDeleteI've never blogged before but I'm excited and looking forward to it. I'm sure we will all get close and share different studying techniques.
ReplyDelete-Gladys Quevedo
I have never blogged before, but many of my friends use blogging as a way of expressing their views and interests. I frequently check blogs that have anything todo with the music or sports i like. I am looking forward to blogging for a class, this should be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've used blogging before, ever since 8th grade. For me though, I blog about events in my life, feelings, etc. It's not anything specific.. it's anything and everything. I'm a little excited to blog about our class while learning about it as well. It's pretty cool cus I haven't had a class do something like this.
ReplyDeleteI am technologically challenged so all of the computer based things intimidate me. I'm also a pretty big introvert, so having to put forth my opinions and comments on things will be a new and hopefully enlightening and not painful experience. : )
ReplyDeleteI've had blogs before tumblr, myspace, blogspot, xanga, etc. I think that blogging is a great way to share information & a great marketing tool. However I find it tedious to use for schooling & making it a nessessity for education. I'm not sure whether this will make a great communication tool for students however I hope that this new experience will be enlightening & a nonpainful experience.
ReplyDelete-Jerome Basilio
I'm not much of a blogger, but if it helps me pass this class I can become one. Lols
ReplyDeleteI think I've blogged before in Friendster, it's a networking site that came before Myspace, but I didn't really blog about anything serious, just personal problems or issues that I had and I wanted other people's thoughts about it. Blogging is fun especially when you find out that people do read it and care about what you wrote. I just don't do it anymore because my life got busier with a one year old to take of and being a full time student. But I'll keep it up for this class. =]
ReplyDeleteJerome, April...hopefully this won't be painful! The primary focus is to reflect on and present some of the work that we will do or topics we cover in and out of class. I'm hoping that it's more constructive than a Discussion Board, and certainly more flexible! If anyone has ideas let me know too, it's certainly a work in progress.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to many of you, I have not blogged before, but I am really excited to learn and become more efficient in utilizing such a great communication device. I have been exposed to forums (my boyfriend uses them quite frequently and swears how useful and awesome they are), which I believe are very similar to blogging...yet now I can also become savvy and reap the same communication benefits! I definitely feel like this could be an extremely useful tool for us as we start this class because sharing ideas and thoughts about the material will help us to fully understand concepts which might have otherwise been difficult to decipher on our own. I think that group studying is essential and this is one new, yet exciting facet of it. I will admit I was hesitant, like many of you, because I am technically challenged at times, but I am excited to overcome new obstacles.
ReplyDeleteI've created a blog before, but I have never really gotten into it. I always felt like I was just rambling on about my life experiences, but I guess that is what I do on Facebook everyday! I think that this blog is going to be both fun and helpful because it is easy to access and it is always fun to mix things up a bit.
ReplyDeleteI actually just recently created my own blog on
ReplyDeletetumblr. My friends have been nagging me to create one so I finally decided to give in. I don't know how it all works just yet, but I know once I get the hang of it, I will enjoy it just as much as they do, considering I am on Facebook every day and it is somewhat similar to blogging.
I think that blogging is helpful because it allows an indvidual to post and share his/her perspectives, ideas and opinions, as well as, view and learn other bloggers perspectives and opinions. This can definetely help as a learning tool.
I don't think I have any concerns about blogging, but if I had to state one, I guess not knowing what to write about or not having anything to say can be a concern.
The fun thing about blogging is that it can sort of act as a virtual "listener". Whenever one has thoughts, ideas, or any of that sort, he/she can simply post them and maybe even recieve comments back from others.
I have never used a blog before and just finding where to comment was tough for me. Like April I am very technologically challenged and have to have my younger sister help me figure these things out. I think that it could be useful for people, like myself, who have a hard time speaking out in class and in public. I also think it will be nice to hear others thoughts and opinions at well. My biggest concern is just getting used to this website and figuring everything out. The fun part about blogging I think will be that it is a more interactive and different way of learning.
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged before so this will be a first for me. I have heard great things about blogging and i cant wait to see what it has to offer me. Let the blogging begin!
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged before, although I have used social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. It seems to me that blogging has gotten quite popular, so I'll give it as try! It might be hard for me to get used to at first, but I think it will be helpful to share thoughts with other students!
ReplyDeleteBlogging... this is new to me. At 25, I feel a little technologically behind my peers. Though I have a facebook profile, I have no idea how to use it, and I have never learned how to even downloaded a song. So, using this blog is going to be good exercise for me. This will force me to end my life long strife with technology. I really don't wanna be one of those old folks who has to use that infomercial Jitterbug phone.
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged a day in my life, but I have heard it was a fun way to express our thoughts. I believe blogging may be helpful in allowing us to express our opinions on certain topics discussed in class. My biggest concern about posting blogs online is not making sense or having huge arguments if people disagree on certain topics. The fun thing about blogging is that the whole class is in on it so everyone has to participate and answer questions online.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a good thought to get everyone connected but frankly, I don't really have the time to post to a blog. I barely have time to eat when i get home from school. I think my blog would be severely neglected.
ReplyDeleteHi all!
ReplyDeleteThis is my time blogging. So far, no problems or concerns. This seems easy enough.From what I have expirenced today,in class, this is an extremely challangeing class, I am going to the TLC lab on Tuesday the 31st to learn how to study for this course. I hope some of you will join me. I will be there 3-5pm.
I look forward to seeing you all.
-Amber Felgenhauer
I am a bit nervous about blogging as I have never blogged before. I can only hope that sharing our different viewpoints will help us learn the course material more effectively. I am concerned that blogging will become too overwhelming, and a nuisance to my overall studies. Although, I feel apprehensive about this project, I think I will enjoy seeing the material presented in this fashion, as well as getting feedback from my peers.
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged or even attempted to until tonight. It could be helpful to see the class responses and, if I remember correctly, Professor Burke said others who are not in the class can become a "guest blogger," which is not the case in a BB Discussion board. My biggest concern however is due to the fact that what we say on here can be on the internet and/or be searched in the future, as far as I could tell. What could be fun is that blogging seems to be new to a lot of us and if we like it, we can continue to use it and create our own blogs after class is over.
ReplyDelete-Brianna Freudenberg
I have never blogged before. The only time I usually see blogs are on facebook, and usually it has to do with somebody's cry for attention about their so called "terrible life". The idea of having a blog page for a classroom such as Microbiology is such a great idea because it is a hard subject. Not only will I get my questions answered, but I will be able to hopefully answer other students questions as well as learn new things. This should be a good experience, and I am looking forward in blogging in this class.
ReplyDelete-Maria Serota
I have blogged before in my life. I recently just started using Tumblr, so I am aware of what blogging is and how people can use it. I like the idea of a blog since it adds to the class and maybe something would come up that wouldn't come up in the lecture.
ReplyDeleteDenise Rios
I have never made a blog or blogged on someone elses page before. I think that they are helpful in expanding media, personal interest, connections between people that share one interest. At the same time I feel there is a down fall in blogging because some people explote others, "word travels faster" and not always in the best way. Blogging along with other cyber sites have created an entire new world for people. But all in all it will be helpful haveing this BIOLOGY blog to talk to fellow people and share ideas =] !
ReplyDeleteChyanne Davis
I never made or done blogs before so I am kind of excited. Blogging seems like a good way to find out different information about certain subjects. Having a blog for microbology seems like a great idea since it will be easier to talk to students. It would be a good experience to be able share ideas and understand topics better.
ReplyDeleteVanessa Paredes
I, along with many others in the class, have never blogged before. It took me forever to figure out how to even sign in and comment! I have never been up to date on all the new online things like facebook (which I just recently made, but still can't figure out!). While I am very new to blogging, I'm not too worried about it, and I think it's a great way to interact with each other about the class--plus I'm always up for learning something new!
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged before, but have a few friends that have them and I enjoy reading their posts. I do enjoy talking about myself, so perhaps blogging will be fun!
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged before and after reading through some of the comments I’m glad to see I’m not the only one. My main concern is that I’m not going to be in-tune with all this technology and I’m going to be fighting with my computer all semester. But I hope I get the hang of it because having a microbiology blog seems like a very helpful tool for learning in this course. It will also be fun to interact more with classmates and get there opinions and views.
ReplyDeleteMegan T.
I have blogged before, but its more like a journal for myself at this point, just on line. I think the class blog will be helpful in terms of allowing everyone to input their ideas and post them for everyone to see. Also, I like that it's sort of permanent and you can always go back and read what others posted and that at 3am you can go on and it's still there. My biggest concern is that I will forget that we have to make a post, I'm so bad about remembering online assignments for traditional classes. Hopefully this will work out well though!
ReplyDeleteI am familiar with blogging because I use the site called, Tumblr. I mostly blog about my day to share my information with friends and other readers who are interested in what I have to say. Blogging sites are helpful tools, especially when it comes to sharing and learning information. In my blog, I currently follow a medical student who uses her domain to reiterate and simply her notes for herself and for her audience. My only concern is the site that we will be using because I'm not really familiar with it, nor am I really familiar with using the internet. I only use the internet for the purpose of connecting with friends, using the popular sites. What is fun about blogging is that we have the freedom to say almost anything we what. We get to express ourselves and learn new things along the way. Also, we get to develop our writing skills.
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged before. I have wanted to but never gotten the chance to do it. However, I have a few friends that blog about their special interests like sports and music. I think it might be helpful to blog because you learn opinions from other and you get to put in your own input. I am mostly concerned that I will forget to post and keep it updated. I think this could be fun so that we express ourselves and we learn about other people's thoughts on topics. I am looking forward to starting my blog experience!!!
ReplyDeleteJeanette L
I have blogged on the Blackboard website for my English 101 class. Blogging is helpful because it enables people to learn different views about the topics you are discussing and enables them to learn from one another. I do not have a concern about blogging other than making sure I do not miss the deadlines. It will be fun to be able to interact with my fellow classmates.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about blogs for years but never actually used on or even read one before. I am looking forward to beginning to use one since it seems to be an excellent way for people to express their views, or communicate with one another. I can imagine that being able to discuss things with the teacher and other classmates will be very helpful for the course. It'll be fun to see how this all really works.
ReplyDeleteI guess blogs are not as popular as I thought, seeing most of us have never done so. Unless you count facebook updates. I guess I am the type who thought my business was rather unimportant and my own. lol. I thought blogging was only for politics and News....and I'm rather uninterested in both. But blogging may help us understand the course material by answering each other questions...and from a professors point of view, it will help get insight as to how much and what the students understand and what they don't, long before the exam....Its a win-win!
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged before, but I do visit many online forums. It can be a great way to find answers to questions and see what others are experiencing. I can't say I'm excited about blogging though, I didn't sign up for online or hybrid classes for a reason. I guess I'm old fashioned for a 21 year old college student, but I feel lessons should be taught, and work assigned in the classroom. Either way, I'm looking forward to learning more about microbiology.
ReplyDeleteI have never blogged before, I am actually a tiny bit nervous about it since this is so new for me. I think its a good idea since now the class has a new way of communicating with eachother that most classes do not use. I also share the same concerns as all the other new bloggers here, however I look at this as a great learning opportunity. I think it will be fun to voice my opinion about topics being discussed as well as read the opinions of others.
ReplyDeleteBrett-
ReplyDeleteYou never have any homework or outside of class assignments in any of your college classes? Hopefully it won't be a painful experience and will help reinforce and extend what is taught in class.
Kelly
I have never blogged before and I am actually a bit nervous about always forgetting to check the blog. I somewhat agree with Brett and the things that he said and I feel that the whole online thing is just unneccesary for me. I hope this helps me out alot throughout the class.
ReplyDeleteI have had classes that used blackboard and other similar sites. The teachers and I have had many problems with these sites. I've had assignments graded incorrectly or not go through at all, also sometimes documents are in formats that aren't compatible with apple. I don't mind online learning, I just worry there could be complications.
ReplyDeleteI have always heard of people blogging however i have never personally blogged before. I'm rarely on the computer so i am in the same boat as jongalicia about forgetting to check the blog. I am excited in trying this new blogging experience and hope that it will help me throughout this class. It's a great way to express your thoughts on the topics presented to us and also it will be very helpful to learn about other students opinions.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think blogging is worth my time. In fact, I do blog on tumblr. I think it's helpful when it comes to communicating and discussing via web- especially since we only have so much time in class to go over everything. However, I am concerned about technical difficulties that may come in the way of grading. Other than that, I am looking forward to reading about my peers' opinions and their comments on my thoughts as well.
ReplyDeleteI have heard "blogging" before and i have even read a couple of blogs. However, i never actually wrote in my own blog. I have heard of this website called tumblr and the posts can be pretty interesting at times. I am excited to try out blogging in this class for the first time.
ReplyDelete-Allen Rapisura
I have personally never blogged before in any of my previous classes, and I am glad that we are doing something different and fun. I specially like reading other peoples comments and see what they think about a certain issue.
ReplyDelete