Blog reflection

This entry will constitute my last post in this blog and will be a reflection on my blogging experience over the past semester. I will evaluate the usefulness of this program in developing skills, those elements that were effective in doing so and those others that may be improved.

Firstly, the selection of a topic was something which each of us had to do at the beginning of the semester and which, upon reflection, was a fundamentally important part of this blogging experience. It is important that a topic is chosen with sufficient depth so that it will maintain the blogger’s and reader’s interests for the duration of the blog. Also important is the availability of a range of easily accessible resources on the topic, in this sense I found it easy to select a topic with some contemporary relevance and hence it was easier to find information and articles in newspapers and other like sources. Selection of an appropriate and engaging topic is essential to obtain all the benefits of blogging and this should be stressed.

Personally I had some issues relating to the length of my posts, simply because I had selected a topic that was, at times, a little complex and as such it was important to fully explain concepts and details rather than produce an entry with little informative substance, that talked around the topic in generalities. While these entries demanded a great deal more time than other shorter and simpler entries which I produced, they were certainly beneficial and I think that in general the workload for this requirement was appropriate.

There were a number of benefits available to be obtained by completing the blog, namely an improved vocabulary in a novel area and the ability to practice and incorporate new grammatical structures learnt in class. The search for and use of various extraneous sources also continued to encourage reading comprehension of articles and information at a more advanced level. The requirement to read and engage with another’s blog was also fundamental to the process as it highlighted the communicative and accessible nature of the blog as a medium of publication.

With regard to possible improvements with the program, understanding that this was the first semester that it was trialled, I think that it should be ensured that there is clarity with expectations and marking criteria. In particular the length of posts, requirement for usage of different grammatical structures and the extent of use and citation of external sources.

Overall this was a highly beneficial experience for my language and one of the more enjoyable tasks I have completed in the Spanish faculty. I would definitely recommend this project be continued in future years.