Social media is widely utilized in our current society and blogs are a common and familiar form of communication. Incorporating this interactive tool into your teaching can increase your student’s engagement and participation, while allowing them to develop their communication and critical thinking skills.

Here are some tips for integrating blogging into your course:

1) Provide the students with a rubric with clear expectations for blogging assignments. Some examples of assessment components within the rubric could be: proper spelling, grammar, content, and posting respectful, prudent comments and suggestions to fellow classmates.

2) Design assignments to enhance the student learning. Pose questions from lectures, reading assignments, projects, case studies or activities. Blogging can also be used as a communication piece in distance learning courses. Engage the students in questions that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

3) When students are constructing a blog and working through the assignments, they are developing their writing and communication skills. Require students to comment on and critique each other’s blogs to improve their skills in peer review and allow them to learn from each other.

Blogs are reflective in nature and allow students freedom to express themselves. Some students are less intimidated to post a blog than to speak in the classroom setting and engaging students in this manner allows them to review and reflect on the course content. Blogs also offer the instructor an additional way to engage students and deliver an active learning experience.

Submitted by:

Cynthia Johnson CDA, RDH, BS, MA

Assistant Professor, Dental Health

Community College of Rhode Island