[Previous entry: "Sprite Remix"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "ctheory"]

04/06/2004 Archived Entry: "blogging"

Found this link over at Byron's site: George Pullman at GSU has his own homegrown blogging system, which looks like it runs on php. In an article I have forthcoming in the WPA journal, I talk about the need for programs to develop their own software, technology packages, etc. so that we are not dependent on managed software (and thus managed by the software companies regarding our intellectual work). This seems to me to be a good example of that process occurring.
Of course, it's not easy getting others on board when you want to go homegrown. Here at UDM, there is complete allegiance to Blackboard despite the product's problems (down every other week) or limitations. Along with technological shifts (what we use), ideological shifts must occur as well (how we think). The campus must find value in using products not produced by vendors (which is a very difficult task to achieve - and one I discovered in recent discussions about our digital portfolio initiatives), and, of course, the students must find value in putting ideas online via a blog or some other means of technology. The second part is extremely difficult when students have been told that either their ideas have little meaning (which I have seen some instructors do implicitly or explicitly) or when students have found no value in the work they do for the university (WHERE IS YOUR TOPIC SENTENCE) and therefore see no reason to write in general. Then there is the overall question of technology which must be integrated throughout the academic experience and not just limited to a loony professor like myself who shows interest in these matters. Otherwise, technology equals novelty and students find little long term importance in retaining interest or knowledge.

Posted by cbd @ 04/06/2004 10:41 PM EST

Maybe. But I would want it on university web space for purposes of ethos.

Our problem is a general lack of IT direction since the last head of IT was fired. We still run the writing center database on cold fusion which is a mess! I want php but no one will install it.

Either way, I'll be interested in what you put together....

Posted by j @ 04/06/2004 02:37 PM EST

You have network issues? Can you get from your network off-campus on a more or less regular basis?

Maybe what we'll end up doing in the long term is getting a server set up and larnin' you how to use a real operating system.

Posted by cbd @ 04/06/2004 02:31 PM EST

Absolutely. I want to see what you come up with. Our problem regarding usage is the backbone. With no IT director in place, we can't get anything done to the backbone so that we can use php systems.

Posted by j @ 04/06/2004 11:35 AM EST

I'm doing a project this summer to look at open source courseware. If you want to use the stuff, that's fine; in fact, that would help me out. We can tweak it to meet your needs.

Posted by cbd @ 04/06/2004 11:19 AM EST