Blog Learning Method

 

Blog is a digital platform that is used by people to write various kinds of writing, from fiction to non-fiction. In  this platform we can share our writing with readers very easily. Readers can also give comments and suggestions after our writing is published or uploaded here. So that, there is a two-way communication between the writer and the reader. This fifth semester in creative writing subject, my lecturer utilizes the blogger media to hone her students' ability and skill in writing. It’s a new method of learning, especially in writing, which I experienced for the first time in my fifth semester now. 

In this learning method every week students are asked to write anything (fiction on non-fiction) on blogger that is appropriate to share at least 10 sentences. One of the exciting things and plus points in this learning method is that the lecturer gives freedom in choosing topics and lecturers give feedback to all students and see their progress in writing, it makes it easier for students to express and channel their respective imaginations in writing. Students were also asked to read and comment on each other's blogs in order to increase their literacy. Students  who like to write or who have a hobby of writing are very enthusiastic about learning methods like this, but there are also students who are not used to writing a little feel burdened by it. At the first time, there are many things that students feel with the application of these learning methods. There are those who feel happy because they can channel their talents and interests, there are also those who feel annoyed because they are less interested and don't like writing, there are also those who feel normal because they think of it as an obligation that must be done by students.

Gradually, learning activities for creative writing courses using the blog method produced positive results or impacts. All student begin to practice writing, express ideas and what they feel through writing. students who had the basics of writing, their works that are posted on the blog are getting better every week, there are improvements in their writing in terms of grammar, choice of words, ideas they put forth, choosing more interesting topics and suitable with their writing style, etc. Students who do not yet have basic writing also begin to learn to write, learn to choose the right words to express ideas in their heads, learn grammar, and try to train themselves to get used to writing and try to find topics that match their abilities. Students who are burdened with this task or this learning method ultimately inevitably have to change their mindset so they can finish their writing on time and must get used to writing (this can train them to be more disciplined, get out of their comfort zone, and try new things).

I, as one of the students who directly experience learning creative writing through the method of writing on blogs, feel a significant impact in terms of developing writing skills. Long story short, I'm not used to expressing what I feel in writing and I think that writing is a boring activity. At first I was very burdened with this kind of learning method and doing assignments because that was my responsibility as a student. However, from being forced to get used to it, I finally started learning many things in this course, trying to fix my messy grammar, trying to enrich my vocabulary so that my blog is not monotonous, trying to find topics that match my personality and things that I like so that I don't get bored and lazy when doing assignments. Fortunately, my lecturer always gives positive feedback, always encourages me to keep writing and improving my writing. After almost one semester, thanks to her because support from her and the method of writing on blog, I feel that writing is not as scary and boring as I thought before.

For students, the blog learning method is a new thing that is applied in semester 5 in honing students' writing skills. Although  at first there were students who felt burdened and uncomfortable with this method, without them realizing this method had a significant impact on their writing ability and skill. In  fact this method is quite effective when implemented. Most students (whether those who already have basic writing or not) feel the benefits of this method after being applied for 1 semester. This  method should continue to be applied to other students as well. So that, there will be more people who feel the advantages or the positive impact directly.