Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Feedback Matters

How is your voice heard in the blogosphere?

Of the millions of people learning about technology in education through blogs, there are relatively few voices actually being heard. If we consider Bloom's Taxonomy, at what level of thinking is the participation of most netizens?


Think about the classes you may have taught. Is one way communication the preferred end result? Are you content voices heard in one direction? I'd rather see reflections or counter-arguments that challenge, confirm or contradict my own sensibilities, than be left to see my words hover alone on a page.

Is that a fact? Are most of those who are contributing their voices to the discussion, doing so in affirming ways? Are there even more productive ways to participate?

Suggestions for responding to Blog posts, according to Bloom:

1] Knowledge: Read; Bookmark; Annotate; Restate;

2] Understanding: Reflect; Question for Clarification; Translate; Add to list; Discuss;

3] Application: Provide an example; Share a pertinent experience; Respond to a request;

4] Analysis: Share an opinion; Link to a new resource; Question; Challenge;

5] Analysis: Probe more deeply; Compare work to another's; Correct inaccuracies;

7] Synthesis: Connect to related posts/ideas; write something new; Digest and reinterpret;

8] Evaluation: Make a judgement; Appraise; Argue; Judge;

Coincidentally, Kim Cofino has issued a 'comment challenge', encouraging us to become better blog citizens.

Photo Credit: AJC1

6 comments:

Rodd Lucier said...

Thanks to Geoff Day for suggesting the missing 'creative' element. Very soon, I'll be considering some more creative ways of responding in the blogosphere.

Ann Oro said...

This is an interesting way to use Bloom's Taxonomy. I hadn't really considered thinking about my writing and responding to blog posts in this manner. It would be an interesting way to introduce the various levels that people operate on, through blogging, in a PD session with teachers.

Rodd Lucier said...

Nice 'extension' Ann! Beyond a reflection, it's one of a number of creative ways of responding. More tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Great breakdown of Bloom's Taxonomy for blogging! This will be perfect to share with teachers who are unsure of how blogging relates to learning!

Now what we need to add is the revised Blooms, with create at the top, because that's the next step - authoring your own blog post (or other creative presentation of what you've learned through the commenting process).

Caroline Bucky-Beaver said...

At times I find it difficult to convince teachers of the benefits of integrating such things as blogs and wikis into their instruction. However, Blooms is something ALL of them area familiar with. Thank you for this. I can definitely use this post as a resource and a rationale for why they should consider making it a part of their classrooms.

Rodd Lucier said...

Carolyn, I wish I'd had time to consider the 'creation' of new content as the revised taxonomy would have suggested. Maybe teachers in your area can offer some suggestions?

Far from being the defacto answer, I think of this post as a beginning...