BLOG
Technical aspects:
In the blogging world, the
user can freely add information on whatever their heart desires. Popular blogs
can focus on food, travel, health and wellbeing, just to name a few. Typically,
the writing style of a blog is fairly informal. The blog is usually constructed
by an individual and updated on a regular basis.
When creating a blog,
there are technical features that allow the presentation of the blog to be
customized in a way that is agreed upon by the user. Adjustment of background,
font size and style, and layout/design can be achieved without difficulty.
There is also the option of embedding files onto the blog. These files can be
in the format of video, imagery or merely content. These options provide
viewers and readers with information and entertainment through a variety of
means.
What is so fantastic about
blogs is the notion of communication. Anyone from anywhere can read and comment
on blog posts to reflect on what has been written or seek further information. Connections
from all over the world can be made and maintained. This can all be done very
efficiently thanks to technology.
I have always been a
blogging ‘viewer’ never a ‘creator’ until my engagement with this course. It
has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience thus far. I found it easy to
navigate (once it was up and running) and to my surprise, enjoy writing in a
less formal fashion and expressing my thoughts and ideas for other people to
read.
Teaching context
As a future educator, I am
delighted to discover the types of technological tools that are deemed
beneficial to student learning. According to Heskett (2009) motivation to learn
and explore new concepts is significantly increased when students are provided
the opportunity to create and engage in the blogging world. Additionally,
individuals develop a sense of ownership over their learning and become
‘experts’ in a given topic (Heskett, 2009). As students share information with
each other, they are required to compare, analyse and evaluate others ideas and
opinions (Kist, 2010). As a result, students draw on higher order thinking, as
questions are posed and ideas are challenged. There is thus a correlation to
the Bloom’s Taxonomy table.
In my future classroom
blogs could be used for a variety of purposes.
These include:
- Reading and writing practices (in particular the process of reflective writing & creative writing)
- Assignment development
- Building students confidence with technology and using common features e.g. copy/past, edit, insert etc.
- Students to use as daily journal to complete daily
- Students could reflect on science experiments held at home
- Start of term introductory resource – e.g. student’s personal information (origin, dob, favourite food, travel, holidays etc)
- Used as a class blog rather than individual to add important information/ used for brainstorming ideas as whole class.
THE SAMR MODEL & BLOGGING
Substitution
-
Allowing
students to draft in the blog positing application.
Augmentation
-
Students
save, edit work and publish on personal blogs for others to view.
Modification
-
Students
add files/links/media to provide further information or insight into topic.
Redefinition
- Class
blog to communicate with other schools across the world.
-
Individual
blog- reach out to authors (students may be inspired by particular authors)
blogs for ideas on stories of their own
What is important to note
is the preparation involved in setting up student’s blogs. It is vital students
are aware of safe and ethical practice online and therefore this must be
articulated to all students. Parental consent is also of importance, to ensure
all caregivers are aware their children are accessing this tool.
WIKI
Wiki is a program designed
to assist people with communicating information in an online collaborative
environment. It is fairly simple in terms of its design and features. The wiki
provides users with specific functions to manage information accordingly. For
example, font size/style can be changed, tables can be added, files and images
uploaded. There is also the ‘Widget’ option, providing the user with a
selection of tools to embed into the wiki. Individuals can view, edit and add
to each other’s content.
Educational context
It is noted that in an
educational context, wiki encourages students to take on an ‘active role’ in
their learning (Pappas, 2013). That is,
students are not passive beings that merely listen and recite information
imparted to them. To reach optimal learning, students must be actively involved
in their learning. Wiki prompts students to research, analyse, construct and
synthesize ideas for others to view (Pappas, 2013).
The wiki is an effective
teaching tool and could be used for a range of areas:
- Literacy: Students could work in groups to analyse and edit a text for errors
- Students create stories in groups by adding a specific number of sentences in and adding on.
- Group assessments to be completed at home- communication via wiki
- Drafts for writing- peer assessment
SAMR MODEL & WIKI
Literacy task: Creative
writing (collaboratively)
Substitution
- Students can add ideas
for story onto wiki page.
Augmentation
- Students can peer assess
each other’s ideas posted onto the wiki & reply with feedback.
Modification
- Students can insert
tables to design a system that shows peers the direction of the story
Redefinition
- Publish story on wiki to
allow students in other cohorts to read
WEEBLY
Weebly is a great tool to use
in the classroom to draw on student’s creative flare and really allows learners
to personalize content and information in a style that appeals to them. The
process of creating the weebly is very straightforward, once you sign up you
are led to undertake a few simple steps. These steps are based on the theme and
overall layout of the weebly. Then, you are offered a variety of options on the
left hand side bar to insert into your weebly. Simply drag the item over and
drop it on the page!
Plus
- Social interaction among learners is
increased
- Used for whole class website (update on
important events, add photographs of learning, current topics being explored)
- Parents can have access to whole-class
website to build community involvement
- Digital art/creativity-
- Offers a range of multimedia options (upload
videos, images, files)
- Option of adding ‘blog’ onto website. The
purpose of the blog could be to enhance reading/writing (literacy based
activites)
- Extends creativity, enthuses students
- Assessment or homework tool- students can
upload onto weebly for teacher to mark
- Increase computer skills
(copy/paste/edit/insert)
- Promote confidence with using technology as a
learning tool
- Adding music onto the weebly classroom page-
this could be used as a transition tool (carpet to desk)
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Minus
- Students using inappropriate content can be
an issue with online learning tools
- Technological breakdown (unexpected internet
disruptions).
- Incompetence
with learning tool- if teachers are new to using the weebly website, they may
not have the confidence to integrate it successfully into the classroom.
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Interesting
- The idea of a ‘classroom website’ is very
intriguing. This would be great to see in action!
- The design elements of the weebly are very
simplistic- it seems keeping it simple is the right way to go!
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WEBSITES:
Weebly: http://jobarker8.weebly.com
Wiki:
http://numeracyprepplan.wikispaces.com
References:
Kist, W. (2010). The socially networked classroom: Teaching
in the new media age. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Heskett, T. (2009). Blogging in the classroom. Westminister,
CA. Teacher Resources Inc.
Pappas, C. (2013). How to
use a wiki in the classroom. Retrieved from: http://elearningindustry.com/how-to-use-wiki-in-the-classroom
– wiki) to write in small groups, conduct peer editing and feedback, and to comment on final products. Work can be done in class time, as well as out of class.