It is 2011, and we’re living in the digital age. As a communications major a big majority of my classes are now taking to the online realm for classroom assignments and participation. But I’m still working out the pros and cons of taking out the traditional elements of a classroom. I know for me, blogging is something I enjoy and puts a little more vigor in my motivation to do homework, but I know with my classmates I see some are hesitant to drop the pen and pick up the keyboard.
Some reasons why I love Blogging for Class:
- It is a great way to get my writing samples out there. Just Google me and you’ll get what I mean. For journalism majors that aren’t familiar with blogging or online publication, it is a good way to get their name out there while they’re still in college. Honestly, I can’t rave enough about the SEO benefits about classroom blogging.
- It is a good indicator of my classmates’s personalities. I’ve had a lot of classes in college so far, but in the ones that promoted online-discussion and social media usage between students, I ended up with more friendships and a better idea of who the people I surrounded myself with every day were.
- When I write an awesome assignment I can share it with the class, and sometimes it is super cool to see the varying opinions or ways people do their assignments. In a way it’s inspirational and shows there’s ways to differentiate from the norm and still do things correctly.
- I feel like the classes I take that require blogging, relies on a lot more writing versus the typical quizzes. I always feel like I can articulate my thoughts and knowledge more clearly in writing than circling A, B, or C on a piece of paper.
Some reasons it can suck:
- Almost all of my teachers forced students to comment on each other blogs for participation points. Seeing “oh yeah, cool post” fifteen times on my blog when I’d read and leave insightful comments on their blogs is a little wearing on the ego.
- Internet arguments are the worse and when your assignment is to blog about a controversial topic you’re bound to have someone publically disagreeing with you. The veil of anonymity the internet provides can sometimes bring out the worst in people.
- Some people are just not meant to be writers, and it shows in any assignment they post online. It makes me show a little empathy towards the professors having to grade these assignments, but it also makes me hate the institution a little more for letting those people into a “competitive admissions” college.
- Blogging is a little informal compared to the touted stack of college papers and essays. Sometimes I feel like my proper grammar and formal structuring lacks after blogging for so long.
Overall I’d say blogging for class is beneficial to me, although it may not always be for my classmates. But at the least it is something every communications major should be familiar with, if only vaguely. If you’re curious about what I’m blogging about for my classes this semester feel free to check up on me HERE.
