Week 9: Article review

                                         

The article The Impact of Using Blogs on College Students' Reading Comprehension and Learning Motivation sheds a light on the use and the advantages of using new literacies with college students. It is argued that current college students are highly motivated by digital technologies and online literacy, however not all colleges or even college professors have undertaken the endeavor of using these technologies to motivate. According to the authors, new research has demonstrated that indeed students are more motivated to participate in various digital tasks, such as researching material online, finding answers to questions, synthesizing information and even taking part in online discussions. Some of the findings however, seem to express that this is facilitated in a more meaningful manner when combined with other strategies, such as collective work with peers, and assigned with both print and in digital formats. The authors also suggest that multimedia assignments enhance the learning experience.

            The main focus of this particular study is on the specific use of blogging in a college classroom setting, where students get to post their work, interact with each other and express ideas and at times personal views. After a study of a controlled group and a non-controlled group (group that used weblogs and one that did not) the results were pretty consistent with the thesis: weblog activities motivated students to write, to express opinions freely, to interact with peers and instructors, and to become ethical writers. Overall, student weblogs became digital portfolios and allowed teachers to have a better view of students equally. Overall the study was pretty strong and gave some very good evidence to support the idea that using digital technologies in the classroom really motivates and creates a community of learner who are engaged and challenged in a way that is suited to their preferences. I find that in my classes overall the reality is the same: my students love to use technology and are highly motivated by the use of new literacies to interact with work and with one another.