1. Blogging along:
Using research blogs to teach
information literacy and critical
thinking in the creative arts
Claire Stewart
Library and Student Services
University of Cumbria

2. Learning Enhancement Advisers

3. ‘Many identify themselves with their creative practice and see
writing in opposition to that practice. They find it constraining
and difficult ... and painful in itself’ (Borg, 2012).

4. 1. Developed critical perspectives on design culture and the
contemporary role of the designer.
2. Explored the possibilities of integrating theory and criticism into
design practice.
3. Developed the ability to place design within a broad frame of
reference.
4. Demonstrated the application of study, analytical and research
skills.
5. Demonstrated the ability to locate and select a wide range of
information sources correctly
Design in Context 2: Learning Outcomes

5. An online account of group
research process
-Includes primary and secondary
research
-Includes visual and textual
information
-Each post must come with a
“critical comment”
What is a research blog?

6. The beauty of blogs

7. Aims
Information
literacy
Locating sources,
evaluating,
refining topics
Ethical use
Referencing and
Copyright
Critical analysis
Commentary,
debate and
discussion
Theory and
practice
History and
context, links with
studio practice
Reflection
Skills developed,
knowledge gained
Visual literacy
Interpreting,
decoding

8. Postmodernism –media, consumerism, cultural hybridity,
Gender – feminism, representation in media, sexualities
Globalisation – cultural imperialism, global branding,
Subcultures – youth culture, new media, specific subcultures
Design Ethics – environmentalism, sustainability
Cybercultures – technology and identity, social networks
Themes

9. Session overview

12. Is ‘hipster’ a subculture?
Use of academic text to deconstruct visual
sources related to popular culture

13. Examples
Supreme Ladies Gender Blog
Temple of Cyber Knowledge
Gender Research Blog
Around the Globe with 8 People

14. Evaluation

15. Student feedback
Research blogs sound less terrifying than an academic essay but you can
warble as much as you like!
I find blogging an interesting and contemporary method to present research.
It’s nice to have a bit of diversity and present work publicly in an environment
we are familiar with.
Research blogs are better than essays…feel more involved and stimulated
It focuses on research (hardest part) and how to analyse it. Makes us explore
more themes and discuss more.
It makes research more friendly!

16. • Further development
of critical thinking
skills
• Follow up sessions
• Peer reviews
• Roll-out to new MA
Creative Media
students and other
programmes
Future Developments