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Title:
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WHY BLOG?: AN ACTIVITY SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF DIARISTIC ACADEMIC BLOGGERS |
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Author(s):
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Vanessa P. Dennen |
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ISBN:
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978-972-8939-67-0 |
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Editors:
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Piet Kommers and Pedro Isaías |
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Year:
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2012 |
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Edition:
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Single |
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Keywords:
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Activity theory, blog, community of practice, informal learning, professional development |
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Type:
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Full Paper |
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First Page:
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59 |
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Last Page:
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66 |
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Language:
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English |
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Cover:
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Full Contents:
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click to dowload 
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Paper Abstract:
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This paper uses an activity systems analysis approach to examine a complex online practice, specifically diaristic style blogging among academics, to determine the relationship between elements of the practice and its outcomes. The focus is on outcomes related to informal learning and professional development that occur as these individuals share their life narratives and their process-oriented career knowledge in an informal community of practice. Findings show that despite barriers such as privacy concerns and tensions between norms of the blogging and academic worlds and initial participation goals that focus on personal journaling and social networking, outcomes of the system include professional networking, knowledge brokering, and support networks, all of which help the participants better attain their professional goals. |
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