What do I think about group work?

First of all, you really need great teammates. They must be consistent and easy to work with. Some common ground is necessary to blend well. Sometimes, it can even turn into a mutual admiration society towards the end of a project.

Most students have hectic and unpredictable schedules, so meeting is a tall order. I can only imagine what it would be like without email and texting! As a student, I was involved in quite a few group projects in online courses, and one in particular was the very best experience. Jamie was the supreme planner; Jonee was the consummate organizer; and Mark (me) was the encourager (for lack of a better word). We persevered, and put together what I think was a top-shelf product. Could we have done better? Could I have contributed more? Does the proverbial bear do his business in the woods? You know the answers!

In closing, it is possible to thoroughly enjoy a group project; the important part is to put together a solid team, determine the strengths of each, and use them as efficiently as possible. If there are any "weak links", the others must be willing to pick up the slack. So... collaborate and learn!

What I think of blogging for teaching and learning purposes

I used Blackboard’s Blog Tool in my online composition classes for a few semesters; it is a wonderful avenue for students to do some low stakes writing. I make their blogs private, preferring to only give myself access to their writing; this affords an excellent opportunity for one-on-one time with my web-based classes. I give semi-weekly prompts, ranging from something associated to what we’re working on to “anything goes”. Students develop a distinct voice, and benefit from comments that I provide. They are unencumbered with the specters of being graded and judged by their classmates, and this allows them to unleash creativity many of them were not aware they possessed. There is no length requirement (other than in one prompt I limit them to two words- “This class ____ ____.” I also do the same type thing with my campus classes, but so far have not forced them to use the Blog tool, preferring to allow them to write longhand in a notebook or on a PC in Word format. After seeing how advantageous the blogging experience can be, I plan to incorporate it more fully in all my classes.