I think student content development is more important. Most online courses rely in a cognitivist/constructivist learning theory, where students are responsible for engaging in their own learning and designing their learning program. As the instructor, I am more of a guide on the side, directing them to other materials and coaching them on improving their learning techniques and expanding their knowledge base. I would like to provide students with the forums they need to reach out into microblogging, but ultimately I would prefer they use it as a channel to work together, with me guiding them as necessary.
Doni,
You are correct! Students have to know the expectations of the assignment. It could get messy without them. . .
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Joseph,
Great point. It can be a type of formative assessment. Nice!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Tonya,
There is great truth to your answer. instructor as to set expectations for the student and the student has to perform the blog based on the criteria.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I would like to see the instructor define the guidelines of the class suggesting content with the students building the content. The end result can be substantially beneficial for all parties.
I think student content development is most important. Once the instructor provides lectures and reading material, including sites and blogs to visit for content and course principles, microblogging presents an opportunity for instructors to ask questions and start a discourse on a given topic, allowing students to share knowledge, perceptions, opinions and ask each other questions. Instructors can stimulate the discourse with additional questions and hashtags to more information, but the microblog represents an opportunity to track student learning and comprehension.
I believe content development on both sides is critical. The instructor and both the student need to find a balance.
