Hype Cycles

Although I am a fan of the blogging assignment and incorporating it in educational ventures, I have discovered a challenge as it relates to our discussion on the comparison with the typical message board.  Each week as we dialog on our threaded message board, if a conversation inspires a new direction of relevant discussion, the student has the ability to start a new thread.  All can see it and respond as inclined.  With the blog, the conversations appear to be so separated that the flow of conversation from one topic to another is missing, which led me to create a new blog post in order to introduce a new thought.  I think this reaction is more likely when all classmates are responding to the same question and therefore generating different, but related conversations on every blog.  This may not be an issue if group members are blogging as a journal and posting thoughts about different topics.  I wonder as my classmates comment on the group's blogs if they will come to a similar conclusion.

Many of my classmates have mentioned they are new to blogging and possibly reluctant with reasonable concerns.  As adult learners, Knowles theory of andragogy explains that we need need to know why we should adopt new knowledge.  How will it impact or become necessary to our lives?  This line of thought reminded me of the Gartner Hype Circle introduced to me in Dr. K's class, Teaching Online.

Simply put, the Gartner Hype Circle examines emerging technologies and place them on a graph to illustrate the path of acceptance or human response to new technologies.  Initially,  there is an overenthusiasm, followed my some disillusionment to eventual understanding of the new technology.  Eventually, those technologies that survive the process will be integrated into personal as well as industry life.  Take E readers for example.  When they first came out there were issues with them and they were expensive.  People were suspicious and hesitant.  Although many still are reluctant, E readers are more popular than ever, affordable, and people are finding more ways to adopt them in their lifestyle.  E readers are here to stay.   

Gartner Research explains their methodology much better than I do. My point is maybe it is helpful to see what technologies, blogging included, are accepted and incorporated and which of those technologies we personally have adopted.  We have discussed the digital divide from various angles and the potential to be "left behind."  If one were consider what Gartner says is imminent to mainstream, maybe it would provide a glimpse to which technologies one should apply effort to learn and adopt .

Here is a graphical explanation of the Hype Cycle 

 

 This is the Gartner Hype Cycle for 2012

This video explains the Hype Cycle in easy language in the first 4 minutes (the rest is an explanation of the instructor's assignment). 

 

As I reviewed this information, I couldn't help but see myself on the Hype Cycle.  First, I am intrigued and excited about something new, then I may experience some frustration and walk away from it for a while.  But, eventually, if it is a worthwhile technology, it will surface again and I will better understand how it will help me.  Finally, with practice, not only does it help me, but it also finds a way into my life that becomes integral.  Please don't take my IPhone away! 

 

Blogging: Pros and Cons for Adult Learners

Is blogging the same as discussion board activity?

The short answer to this question is it can be.  However, it is worthwhile to dig a bit deeper and explore the concept.  Since I know everyone reading this blog is familiar with message board in the context of online graduate studies, I will not define it again.  Blogs, on the other hand, should be defined since we are using them as a learning tool to explore options as future online educators.  “A blog is a frequently updated web site characterized by a reverse chronological listing of entries that can be searched, archived, and categorized according to labels, called tags, assigned by the author (King and Cox, 2012).”  ProBlogger gives a more detailed definition and explores perspectives from broad to technical. 

First, let’s examine what is similar specific to the academic environment.  Both message boards and blogs:

• Allow individuals to post opinions, thoughts, research, etc.
• Allow others to comment on an author’s post.
• Allows an author to share links to other web sites, embed video, and post photos.  This assumes the administrator of the message board includes this function.
• Allows an author to construct new meaning through personal reflection and social participation of discourse.
• Allows an instructor insight into a student’s grasp of concepts.  
• Has potential to build a sense of community among students and instructors.
• Provides opportunity for scaffolding of knowledge and deeper learning for students as they work to articulate themselves and engage in discourse.
• Allow for equitable contribution from multiple authors for collaborating (the blog has to be set up for multiple authors).

At first glance, one may wonder what more blogs could offer to persuade an instructor to incorporate this tool.  Although there are many similarities that are critical to the learning process, it is the subtle nuances of blogging that may offer the student and the instructor a deeper learning experience.  

Blogs allow a student to personalize their work space and to chronicle their submissions, with the ability to archive and search.  Students who want to delve deeper into a subject have the freedom to expand on their work without cluttering a message board, appealing to the self-directed learner.  King and Cox (2012) cite research from Williams and Jacobs (2004) who found that blogs have the potential to be a transformative technology for teaching and learning because of the lack of boundaries typical to the traditional classroom.  They assert that students have the opportunity for authentic voice and empowerment.  This, along with the interaction from peers creates the transformative potential of a “participatory culture as a social revolution… (Ibid, 2012).”

Personally, I think an instructor can achieve a variety of results with message board or blogging, depending on how it is used.  If students are given a question to respond to, the results will be very similar.  However, if a blog is used as a reflective journal allowing students to pick a topic that resonated with them each week, including requirements of other students to respond, the outcome could reflect more of the transformational potential the authors refer to.  The authors noted the Reflector-Mirror exercise as the most successful practice in blogging (King and Cox, 2012).  A few thoughts come to mind that would disadvantage the blog exercise.  It is public and that may concern participants and because it is outside of the LMS, students will have to find a way to organize it into their school habits.  Finally, adult students are time sensitive, so reading multiple blogs and commenting could overwhelm, not unlike an active message board, but the added need to click to multiple locations could be cumbersome.  Google reader or other feed reader may minimize this, but then requires additional technology skill and comfort. 

For more ideas on blogs and transformational learning, check out these links:

New Castle University's School of Medical Sciences Education Development studied undergraduate student and their reaction to the incorporation of blogs as a learning tool for life-long learning.  Reflective Learning for the Net Generation Student 

A paper that includes the current literature encouraging transformative pedagogy with some discussion on various technology to facilitate that intent.  The authors also ask for more research on how to incorporate transformative pedagogy in an online environment that is sensitive to the impact of the student's affect.
An Exploration of Transformative Learning in the Online Environment 

Faculty Focus, created in 2003 by Magna Publications is an e-newsletter and dedicated web site that publishes articles on effective teaching strategies for the college classroom — both face-to-face and online.  In this article, the author discusses 4 precursors to transformative learning and how technology can influence readiness. 
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/transformative-learning-four-activities-that-set-the-stage/
 

King, K. & Cox, T. (2011). The Professor’s Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.