Blogs:
From having a quick look at some other people's blogs, I have discovered that different people use them for different purposes. Some people use them to comment specifically to comment on a certain topic or focus, others as a news source and some as personal journals. Educational blogging is also a new trend that is emerging.
Educational blogging is basically just setting up a blog in a classroom context. Stephen Downes (2004) states that setting up a class (or school) blog is relatively easy. The classroom teacher can add class times and rules, assignment due dates and information, readings and homework exercises. If the learning is scaffolded correctly the blog can become not only a powerful form of communication but also a powerful reflective tool.
Blogs fit well into most learning contexts. I think that they have the potential to guide student learning well in a middle to upper primary learning environment. However, I would be surprised to see them in use in an early years learning environment.
Yes Krystal,
ReplyDeleteGreat for organisation. For instance, rather than have students type in questions etc in their own blogs, you could certainly add eh content to yours so that they can copy and paste. Time-saving, efficient, and leaves more time for the thinking and responding. Do consider beyond this, as a tool for your students - the bonus is that you can access, SEE and respond to the thinking of ALL of your students. In a regular classroom this is not possible, is it? You tend to address teh concerns of some, each lesson, but cannot fully profile the development of your entire class concurrently!
And you will be amazed at how early childhood students are able to upload images, voice files, and even small movies they have created. They do not have the same barriers as we do - they have such a "can do" attitude!
So consider now how you will use blogs to scaffold great thinking and great learning...
Hi Krystal
ReplyDeleteWhen I commenced prac I was surprised about how amazingly talented early learners are and how sometimes we seem to underestimate their capabilities (myself included).
However by modifying the concept map design to include both pictures and words early learners are able to engage in this tool to display data and ideas.
……readings and homework exercises online – wow – I know that we are living in the “technology age” but does everyone have access to a computer at home???
Hey Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI know that not everyone has access to a computer at home and therefore homework and readings should also be handed out in paper form.
I wrote that comment thinking of the possibilities of children who happen to be sick and miss the hand out of homework or those on holidays. It would just be an extra means of keeping up for those who have the access. It would also help parents who are curious as to what their child is learning at school. Examples of classwork and the like could be posted by the teacher as a sort of online newsletter. Those that don't have the access (like you said) would still be able to view the blog at school or in a public library ect.