11.04.05
Your Brain on Blogs
What effect is blogging having on the brains of bloggers?
While educators debate the use of blogs in the classroom, literacy and digital fluency, Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide explore the topic of blogs with a focus on the brain. The Eide Neurolearning Blog is about all things Neurolearning, current research and articles about brain-based learning styles and differences.
“…it always makes sense to ask whenever large numbers of people start using their brains in new and different ways, what effects these new activities are likely to have on brain structure and function. Blogging, which only seems to be accelerating in popularity, is a prime candidate for such investigation.”
In their post Brain of the Blogger their conclusions are presented here:
1. Blogs can promote critical and analytical thinking.
2. Blogging can be a powerful promoter of creative, intuitive, and associational thinking.
3. Blogs promote analogical thinking.
4. Blogging is a powerful medium for increasing access and exposure to quality information.
5. Blogging combines the best of solitary reflection and social interaction.
Whether you are a teacher or a parent, the Eide Neurolearning Blog is a valuable resource about educating the whole child.
Gardner said,
November 7, 2005 at 2:27 pm
Fascinating site, Lisa. Thanks for blogging on this. As a metaphor junkie, I’m particularly glad to see the conclusion regarding analogical and associational thinking.
Teresa Coffman said,
November 10, 2005 at 11:49 am
I am interested cognitive processes as it relates to bloggers. My classes have been focusing on critical thinking. Specifically, how we can encourage and promote critical thinking in our K12 classrooms. Blogging can be an effective tool for promoting critical thinking but then again it could be a tool of mediocre thinking. The idea of promoting critical thinking would ultimately depend on the topic and the interest level of the blogger with the topic. The blogger needs to take ownership of the words on the blog and the blog must promote discussion and conversation. Without an active exchange of ideas and critique by the blogging community critical thinking is dropped by the side of the road with no where to go. Building a community around the blog is key – My belief.