Blogs

Example

The simplest way of introducing writing online to your students. Suitable for large or small projects, as webpages or a traditional calendar-entry driven blog. Can incorporate reflections if it is around a larger project. 

Pros

• Authentic, engages student in writing online
• Familiar format to many students
• Students can complete their blog in stages over time. You can see how your students’ work develops over time. This reduces the likelihood of misconduct;
• Can have a professional focus to heighten authenticity;
• Encourages students to work in small steps, allowing them time to think and reflect on their ideas;
• Other resources can be embedded in blogs  and peer’s/readers' comments can be incorporated;
• You can assess ability to blog (ongoing) or indicate that it will be assessed at a specific point in time.

Cons

• Some students may not be familiar with writing blogs so for them the technical challenge is added to the work needed;
• students may need help balancing the blog format with necessary academic conventions (eg citations and mode of expression)
• Will the blog be public or viewable only by you and the student?
• How long will students be expected to use the blog?
• Is any specialist training needed in order for the students to be able to use the platform?

Requirements

A blog platform. UoE provides one and this is preferred, though external free sites are not off-limits

University of Edinburgh - academic blogging service

Resistance to academic misconduct – 2/5

Medium, but dependent on task.

In some modes, similar to open-book assessments of any type.

Making it more robust

• As with other assessments, covering learning outcomes in different ways and having same assessor take views across them is helpful.
• Include some live oral assessment (presentations, viva-type)