tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242881996852098.post4182748857855297365..comments2024-01-08T08:39:39.026-08:00Comments on The Open Source Paleontologist: ScienceOnline2012 - Day 3Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171447306687358664noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242881996852098.post-34391356197793547262012-01-23T16:35:52.257-08:002012-01-23T16:35:52.257-08:00100% agreed! In many cases, simply getting student...100% agreed! In many cases, simply getting students to engage in the comments section would be a major plus.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16171447306687358664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242881996852098.post-42105240895816341322012-01-23T16:28:17.251-08:002012-01-23T16:28:17.251-08:00I suppose I'd question the value of blogging a...I suppose I'd question the value of blogging as part of the curriculum. Really, what is the point until you have to something to say? And when you do, the mechanics are easy enough to pick up as you go along.<br /><br />Maybe more relevant would be a course on engaging with existing blogs -- commenting, discussing, and so on.Mike Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06039663158335543317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242881996852098.post-23231723395013113942012-01-23T16:16:44.034-08:002012-01-23T16:16:44.034-08:00Thanks for the comment, Mike. Re: the blogging ses...Thanks for the comment, Mike. Re: the blogging sessions, those were mostly geared towards using blog-writing as a component of a curriculum or broader program. And while I agree that in most cases a blog can and should be an organic thing, when dealing with blogging as part of a classroom experience, planning really *is* important. It's not just enough to say "Here, start a blog and give me four posts before the end of the semester." Students need some guidance about what a blog is, what it can be, and whether or not it's right for them. (and believe it or not, most HS-aged students are unfamiliar with blogs other than knowing they're something "old people" do!)<br /><br />As discussed in the sessions, planning involves more than just content, but things like whether to allow comments, pseudonyms or real names, etc. - all issues that are more unique to having minors involved.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16171447306687358664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242881996852098.post-82732888623092316562012-01-23T15:49:47.016-08:002012-01-23T15:49:47.016-08:00"This discussion focused on how to engage hig...<i>"This discussion focused on how to engage high school and college students in science blogging. There are no easy solutions, but there were some tips to get them started. In particular, planning is key. What is the goal? Who are the potential readers?"</i><br /><br />Really? I'd have said almost the exact opposite. My experience of blogging has been that what keeps me at it is the sense of freedom. Unlike writing papers, I <i>don't</i> have to stick to a plan or ever a coherent overall topic when I'm blogging: I just write about what I care about, and that is what makes the writing live.<br /><br />In the end, I think the only successful strategy for science blogging is: care passionately about your subject. If you don't, then your readers won't.<br /><br /><i>"Why the Resistance to Science Blogging?"</i><br /><br />What resistance?<br /><br /><i>"Scientist/Journalist Relations: This isn't a new topic (see here for one recent post), and is getting a little tiresome for many."</i><br /><br />Yep. I think this is pretty simple, really (which is not the same thing as saying it's easy). If you're a scientist who's going to be dealing the media, do your preparation properly so that they don't <i>have</i> to take an uninformed stab at dumbing your work down. Dumb it down for them. Give them summaries, quotes, images, videos if you can, fact sheets. Make it easy for the to do the job right.Mike Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06039663158335543317noreply@blogger.com