Is Blogging an Effective Learning Tool?

Yes, I think blogging is an effective learning tool for students in college and should be explored as a learning tool for high school students as well.  The majority of students aged 15-22 are very familiar with the internet, since it's existence became so popular when we were young and absorbing all of the information presented to us.  These young adults interact with people through various forms of social media almost everyday, so why not apply blogging to the scholarly learning process?  I would argue that no matter how familiar one may be with blogging, they will learn skills in articulating the importance of a topic in a fashion that is attractive to internet viewers after repeated exposure throughout a typical semester.

Too often, students are forced to rapidly take notes in class and read thick chapters in their textbook so that they can be tested in a high-anxiety filled classroom.  I think that this way of learning is definitely not effective in certain circumstances. Cramming too much information in your head and being expected to spew out random definitions or calculations in a small time frame in an uncomfortable desk is very stressful for students, and might not necessarily be the best form of evaluating their knowledge of a subject or topic.  Blogging at home is much more relaxing for students because they can work at their own pace during the research and reporting process, all in the comfort of their couch or bed.  In addition, each person has their own personality and educational background that they can apply in blogging to produce an interesting format.

I am thankful to complete two college courses with Dr. Moss at Ohio University for such positive aspects of his teaching philosophy.  Other than keeping his lectures engaging with personal anecdotes or jokes, his homework assignments are enjoyable.  Additionally, I feel as though I can retain the information that I learned through writing blogs better than if I had been forced to be tested on them.  Lastly, researching topics relating to class is entertaining for me personally and show my blogs to any family members or friends that are interested in how educational blogging actually works.