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

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     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!

Weebly used in a classroom context (PMI)

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)

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.

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!

Adding music to the weebly would draw people in.

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