‘Economics with Training Wheels’: Using Blogs in Teaching and Assessing Introductory Economics

Blogs provide a dynamic interactive medium for online discussion, consistent with communal constructivist pedagogy. This paper explores the use of blogs in the teaching and assessment of a small (40-60 students) introductory economics paper. The role of blogs as a teaching, learning and assessment tool are discussed. Using qualitative and quantitative data collected across four semesters, students’ participation in the blog assessment is found to be associated with student ability, gender, and whether they are distance learners. Importantly, students with past economics experience do not appear to crowd out novice economics students. Student performance in tests and examinations does not appear to be associated with blog participation after controlling for student ability. However, students generally report overall positive experiences with the blog assessment.

[1]  A. Collins,et al.  Situated Cognition and the Culture of Learning , 1989 .

[2]  Evelyn Gullett,et al.  Evaluating Student Perceptions of Using Blogs in an Online Course , 2010, Int. J. Inf. Commun. Technol. Educ..

[3]  Jude Higdon,et al.  Blogs and Wikis as Instructional Tools: A Social Software Adaptation of Just-in-Time Teaching , 2009 .

[4]  Elsebeth Korsgaard Sorensen,et al.  Collaborative Knowledge Building in Web-Based Learning: Assessing the Quality of Dialogue. , 2001 .

[5]  Julie E. Mills,et al.  Using wikis and blogs for assessment in first‐year engineering , 2009 .

[6]  Shiang-Kwei Wang,et al.  Reflections on Using Blogs to Expand In-class Discussion , 2008 .

[7]  A. Whitehead.  The aims of education , 1929 .

[8]  D. Panescu,et al.  Emerging Technologies , 2008, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine.

[9]  O. H. Sayed,et al.  Developing Business Management Students' Persuasive Writing Through Blog-based Peer-Feedback , 2010 .

[10]  Fengfeng Ke,et al.  The effect of peer feedback for blogging on college students' reflective learning processes , 2008, Internet High. Educ..

[11]  Richard E. Ferdig,et al.  Content Delivery in the "Blogosphere" , 2004 .

[12]  Stuart Glogoff,et al.  Instructional Blogging: Promoting Interactivity, Student-Centered Learning, and Peer Input. , 2005 .

[13]  R. Slavin.  Cooperative Learning: Theory, Research and Practice , 1990 .

[14]  M. Cameron,et al.  Recognising and building on freshman students’ prior knowledge of economics , 2011 .

[15]  William L. Goffe,et al.  Teaching with Technology: May You Live in Interesting Times , 2005 .

[16]  Brendan Tangney,et al.  Communal Constructivism: Students constructing learning for as well as with others. , 2001 .

[17]  Werner Beuschel,et al.  Weblogs in Higher Education , 2009 .

[18]  Richard E. Custin,et al.  Developing Sustainable Learning Communities through Blogging , 2010 .

[19]  Christian Wagner,et al.  Learning with Weblogs: An Empirical Investigation , 2005, Proceedings of the 38th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[20]  Joshua C. Hall,et al.  Teaching the Economic Way of Thinking Through Op-Eds , 2013 .

[21]  Claire Brooks,et al.  Using Blogging for Higher Order Learning in Large Cohort University Teaching: A Case Study. , 2008 .

[22]  Jo Ann Oravec.  Blending by Blogging: weblogs in blended learning initiatives , 2003 .

[23]  Eleni Oikonomidoy.  Conceptual collective online reflection in multicultural education classes , 2009 .

[24]  Ken Gale,et al.  The Influence of Online Problem-Based Learning on Teachers' Professional Practice and Identity. , 2005 .

[25]  Trena M. Paulus,et al.  "Am I making sense here?": What blogging reveals about undergraduate student understanding. , 2009 .

[26]  Alicia S Bouldin,et al.  "Blogging" about course concepts: using technology for reflective journaling in a communications class. , 2006, American journal of pharmaceutical education.

[27]  L. Fai Wong,et al.  Using Web-Based Distance Learning to Reduce Cultural Distance , 2004 .

[28]  Susan M. Land.  Cognitive requirements for learning with open-ended learning environments , 2000 .

[29]  S. Wade,et al.  Research to Practice Online , 2003 .

[30]  Myint Swe Khine,et al.  The Quality of Message Ideas, Thinking and Interaction in an Asynchronous CMC Environment , 2003 .

[31]  Pedro F. Hernández-Ramos.  Web Logs and Online Discussions as Tools to Promote Reflective Practice , 2004 .

[32]  Robert A. Reiser,et al.  Group Cognition , 1988 .

[33]  Jeffrey Hsu.  Innovative Technologies for Education and Learning: Education and Knowledge-Oriented Applications of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and More , 2008, Int. J. Web Based Learn. Teach. Technol..

[34]  Jeremy B. Williams,et al.  Exploring the use of blogs as learning spaces in the higher education sector , 2004 .

[35]  Willard Richardson,et al.  Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms , 2006 .

[36]  L. S. Vygotksy.  Mind in society: the development of higher psychological processes , 1978 .

[37]  Etienne Wenger,et al.  Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation , 1991 .

[38]  Anita Wenden,et al.  Learner strategies for learner autonomy : planning and implementing learner training for language learners , 1991 .

[39]  Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,et al.  The Use of Information Technology to Enhance Management School Education: A Theoretical View , 1995, MIS Q..

[40]  Curtis A. Siller,et al.  Emerging Technologies , 2008, 2018 IEEE International Meeting for Future of Electron Devices, Kansai (IMFEDK).

[41]  Ann L. Brown,et al.  How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. , 1999 .

[42]  Richard S. Balkin,et al.  Peer Teaching in Web Based Threaded Discussions , 2004 .

[43]  Sarah Younie,et al.  Communal constructivist theory: information and communications technology pedagogy and internationalisation of the curriculum , 2001 .

[44]  Mari Yamauchi.  Integrating Internet Technology into the EFL Classroom: A Case Study , 2009 .

[45]  Andrew Gavrin,et al.  Just-in-Time Teaching , 2011 .

[46]  Hui-Yin Hsu.  Preparing teachers to teach literacy in responsive ways that capitalize on students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds through weblog technology , 2006 .

[47]  Jo Ann Oravec.  Bookmarking the World: Weblog Applications in Education , 2002 .

[48]  Steve Wheeler,et al.  Wikis, blogs and podcasts: a new generation of Web-based tools for virtual collaborative clinical practice and education , 2006, BMC medical education.

[49]  S. Herring.  Computer‐Mediated Discourse , 2005 .

[50]  Andrew Gavrin,et al.  Just-In-Time Teaching: Blending Active Learning with Web Technology , 1999 .

[51]  P. Cobb,et al.  Cognitive and Situated Learning Perspectives in Theory and Practice , 1999 .

[52]  Kristen L. McMaster,et al.  Integrating advanced technology in teacher education courses , 2009 .

[53]  Amy P. Cohen,et al.  Using seminar blogs to enhance student participation and learning in public health school classes. , 2008, American journal of public health.

[54]  M. Lipman.  Thinking in Education , 1992 .

[55]  Lilian H. Hill,et al.  Development of a competency-based assessment process for advanced pharmacy practice experiences. , 2006, American journal of pharmaceutical education.

[56]  Bob Goodwin-Jones,et al.  Blogs and Wikis: Environments for On-Line Collaboration. , 2003 .

[57]  E. Thorndike.  The fundamentals of learning , 1972 .

[58]  Daniel Churchill,et al.  Educational applications of Web 2.0: Using blogs to support teaching and learning , 2009, Br. J. Educ. Technol..