Blog for Women's Studies Program

So, Penny and I were speaking about this blog and apparently she had just mentioned the possibility of a blog for the Women's Studies Program (as a whole) to Jennifer Semsar. We talked about the possibility of a blog for the department as another route for me to take in this class.

I emailed Jenni this afternoon, and she wrote me back with the name of a contact, Amy in Web Services, who said they "keep a list for the blogs" and "choose who starts one." I called Amy, and apparently her department is only in charge of Billiken Blogs. She said that we are free to create a blog and link it. She suggested I make the blog open to multiple posters (student voices) and there is a way for me to allow multiple gmail users to post, if I use blogspot. She also gave me a few helpful tips:


--hesitate to put things in a blog that can put on a website

not always necessary to “blog” information like pictures, events, student projects, etc. (especially applicable to items that might be useful for potential freshmen).

--instead, be specific about audience and purpose separate from website

--talk with individual in charge of website (content possibilities….? Working with….?)… [<== this is jenni semsar.]

--maintain for a while before linking to it People get excited initially, but don’t always maintain because it is a lot of work. [although they might if it were for a class!]


Her tips are useful. What is the purpose of this blog? How is it different from the department's website?


There is also a very apt speaker coming on Friday to speak about blogs and wikis in the classroom -- Mike Wesch. Some info about his lecture:


"OCT 2 2009

1:30-3:00

AB AUDITORIUM in COOK HALL

Dr. Wesch will present a cultural analysis of the current trend toward internet usage in Higher Education, including:

* Study of the uses of wikis, blogs, and other “Web 2.0” applications in the classroom…
* Commentary on the impact of the Web on global society…
* Reflections on future applications of the web in higher education…
* And more…"

--Flyer regarding Wesch's speech.

I'll definitely be asking Dr. Wesch for blogging tips. And what about a wiki??

Also, I emailed Dr. Fathman, a sociology professor who has used blogs extensively in several classes. I'm going to try to get some tips from her as well.

I'll keep you all posted. If we do start a blog for the department, it could be a way for us all to voice our thoughts and experiences (even anonymously).

Emma C. Obata