Blogging in the Classroom is a shared focus for an ICT assignment at the University of Auckland, Faculty of Education. We split the idea of blogging in the classroom into the following areas of focus;
AREAS OF FOCUS:Laura: E-portfolios Emma: Integration Alison: Assessment
Through these areas of focus we have developed an overarching concept whilst working on our individual blogs: This can be put simply as follows: "through integration of ICT with curriculum areas and various contexts within the classroom, combined with the ongoing building of portfolios, provides a sound base for assessment to take place effectively".
Infuse rather than use
ICT can be a teachers nightmare. It is common to hear "i already have so much to cover how am i meant to fit in ICT into my programme as well" or "we don't have enough computers and we only get to use the ICT room for 45 minutes a week"
The idea of blogging and the other web tools is to make the most of what you have and use the time effectively.
Blogging should not be a task in isolation in should be infused into the everday teaching and learning experiences.
Setting up blogs can be time consuming but they can be set up over time. It is essentially something that develops as you use it and everything you add builds up the overall look of your blog.
Templates are available for you and your students to use and therefore you personalise it as you go.
Link blogs to a theme you are focusing in on class, or set up a blog for a maths or science investigation taking place. If you have one classroom comupter, set up a classroom blog and students can post results on as they achieve them. This can happen during the teaching and learning process.
Set up a timetable for your class computer, students can post throughout the day. You can timetable it so it is only during particular lessons or if you have an integrated programme then the posting can take part at any point during the day.
Encourage your student who have access to the internet at home to continue to develop their work at home and it is up to you if you offer those who don't have access extra time before/after school and at lunchtimes under supervision.
For all learning to be relevant and meaningful to students it needs to have an authentic context. It is the same with blogging. The novelty will wear off for students if they don't see the relevance.
The idea of blogging and the other web tools is to make the most of what you have and use the time effectively.
Blogging should not be a task in isolation in should be infused into the everday teaching and learning experiences.
Setting up blogs can be time consuming but they can be set up over time. It is essentially something that develops as you use it and everything you add builds up the overall look of your blog.
Templates are available for you and your students to use and therefore you personalise it as you go.
Link blogs to a theme you are focusing in on class, or set up a blog for a maths or science investigation taking place. If you have one classroom comupter, set up a classroom blog and students can post results on as they achieve them. This can happen during the teaching and learning process.
Set up a timetable for your class computer, students can post throughout the day. You can timetable it so it is only during particular lessons or if you have an integrated programme then the posting can take part at any point during the day.
Encourage your student who have access to the internet at home to continue to develop their work at home and it is up to you if you offer those who don't have access extra time before/after school and at lunchtimes under supervision.
For all learning to be relevant and meaningful to students it needs to have an authentic context. It is the same with blogging. The novelty will wear off for students if they don't see the relevance.
The 21st Century Classroom - what should it look like
In America a research group called the 'partnership for 21st centry skills' key partner being the 'U.S Department of Education Appalachian Technology in Education Consortium.
They identify these skills below as the essential learning skills in the 21st centry
Information and communications skills Examples: Using communication, information processing, and research tools (such as word processing, e-mail, groupware, presentation software, and the Internet) to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information). These skills include information and media literacy skills.
Thinking and problem-solving skills Examples: Using problem-solving tools (such as spreadsheets, decision support, and design tools) to manage complexity, solve problems, and think critically, creatively, and systematically.- Interpersonal and self-directional skills Examples: Using personal development and productivity tools (such as e-learning, time managers, and collaboration tools) to enhance productivity and personal development. These skills include accountability and adaptability skillsUse 21st Century tools to develop learning skills
- Use digital technology and communication tools to access, manage, integrate and evaluate information; Construct new knowledge; Communicate with others effectively. Examples: Using 21st Century tools (such as word processing, e-mail, presentation software, the Internet, spreadsheets, decision support programs, design tools, e-learning, time management programs, and collaboration tools) combined with learning skills in core subjects equals 21st Century Skills (ICT Literacy)Teach and learn in a 21st century context.
- Learn academic content through real-world examples; Learning must expand beyond the four classroom wallsTeach and learn 21st century content(3 emerging content areas) Global awareness Financial, economic and business literacy, and Civic literacy.Use 21st Century Assessments that measure 21st Century Skills High quality standardized tests Classroom assessments for teaching and learning.
Learning needs to start in the classroom where children can effectively learn from outside of the four walls of the physical classroom. By this I mean they need to be able to access the vast range of information provided by the world wide web, they need to share their ideas with the world and they need to seek the knowledge of expert others.
During all learning experiences that happen in the classroom there should be an element of research or further learning for the children.
Opportunities need to be created for children to do their own learning, not just acquire the knowledge teachers deliever.
Integrated programmes are becoming more popular in schools and teaching this way opens a perfect opportunity to integrate blogging into the learning experience.
Integrated programmes are based on the idea that specific skills are focused on and all core learning areas are faciliated around that focus. This means that there is normally a running theme through the programme.
In this situation blogging would allow teachers and students to record their learning process and feedback and feed forward can guide children through the unit.
When students find material that is significant or find a site that may help other students they can place links and feeds on the blog to allow others to use the material.
The internet is know longer about googling key words its about a connected community of people who share their knowledge with the rest of the world.
Postive blogging
Blogs provide a way of capturing part of what is in the mind of a learner and their responses to experiences. Through language learners make sense of what they are learning and blogs provide an opportunity to reflect and makes sense of information as they write it down and share it with others.
Students learn how to deepen their understanding of learning by writing down what they learn in their own words.
Torill Mortensen and Jill Walker (2002) who wrote in their excellent essay 'Blogging thoughts' that:
"From a junior scholar's point of view, blogging can be an excellent method for developing and sustaining a confident and clear voice of one's own and the ability to formulate and stand by opinions.…Writing in a blog one is forced to confront one's own writing and opinions and to see them reflected in the words of others".
Students learn how to deepen their understanding of learning by writing down what they learn in their own words.
Torill Mortensen and Jill Walker (2002) who wrote in their excellent essay 'Blogging thoughts' that:
"From a junior scholar's point of view, blogging can be an excellent method for developing and sustaining a confident and clear voice of one's own and the ability to formulate and stand by opinions.…Writing in a blog one is forced to confront one's own writing and opinions and to see them reflected in the words of others".
Dr Alison Ruth - Educational Blogging
Dr Alsion Ruth makes some very valuable comments in her blog; Educational Blogging Creates a Unique Partnership between Third Grade Students and University Students. View her blog for more information.
These following quotes i have taken from her site clearly illustrate some of the benefits of using blogs in the classroom.
She mentions the safety issues i have disscussed in a previous blog "who should blog in the classroom" and touches on the significance of feedback and how blogging can enhance quality feedback in the classroom.
I feel these quotes are worth sharing;
"Blogs in the classroom can serve at least four basic functions: classroom management, collaboration, discussion, and student portfolios (Crie, 2004). Teachers can use the blog as a form of communication with students and parents. The comment feature makes blogging a forum through which students can communicate and collaborate. This can be done from the perspective of the whole-class, within smaller groups or individuals. Students can also use the blog as a means of communicating with children at other schools or even in different countries. The blog can serve as a discussion forum, open to all Internet users, or limited to the students in one class. Individual student blogs provide an ongoing portfolio of that student’s work because each entry is dated and placed in chronological order".
"The ability to comment on a blog offers the opportunity for others to provide feedback and therefore "scaffolding of new ideas" (Ferdig and Trammell, 2004, p. 1). Blogging can extend students beyond the classroom to the rest of the world by providing a venue to gain perspective from others. These multiple perspectives should offer countless new opportunities to reflect and learn. In addition, students can become subject matter experts through exposure to vast amounts of information, which increases student interest and ownership of learning (Ferdig and Trammel, 2004). There is so much more opportunity for diverse perspectives when the ability to comment is extended to the whole world".
"Some teachers, parents and school administrators discourage blogging, concerned that the security of the child is at risk. Sadly, there are instances of adults taking advantage of children using the Internet. With this in mind, many schools prefer to limit access to the blogs or at least limit commenting privileges. Some blogging platforms offer the teacher the ability to approve the comments before the students have access to the content. While this method may place a little more administrative duties on the teacher, the depth and breadth of the comments may make it all worth it".
"When teachers understand the educational value and implications of blogs, as well as, the security concerns of blogs, the decision to integrate blogs into the curriculum is natural".
These following quotes i have taken from her site clearly illustrate some of the benefits of using blogs in the classroom.
She mentions the safety issues i have disscussed in a previous blog "who should blog in the classroom" and touches on the significance of feedback and how blogging can enhance quality feedback in the classroom.
I feel these quotes are worth sharing;
"Blogs in the classroom can serve at least four basic functions: classroom management, collaboration, discussion, and student portfolios (Crie, 2004). Teachers can use the blog as a form of communication with students and parents. The comment feature makes blogging a forum through which students can communicate and collaborate. This can be done from the perspective of the whole-class, within smaller groups or individuals. Students can also use the blog as a means of communicating with children at other schools or even in different countries. The blog can serve as a discussion forum, open to all Internet users, or limited to the students in one class. Individual student blogs provide an ongoing portfolio of that student’s work because each entry is dated and placed in chronological order".
"The ability to comment on a blog offers the opportunity for others to provide feedback and therefore "scaffolding of new ideas" (Ferdig and Trammell, 2004, p. 1). Blogging can extend students beyond the classroom to the rest of the world by providing a venue to gain perspective from others. These multiple perspectives should offer countless new opportunities to reflect and learn. In addition, students can become subject matter experts through exposure to vast amounts of information, which increases student interest and ownership of learning (Ferdig and Trammel, 2004). There is so much more opportunity for diverse perspectives when the ability to comment is extended to the whole world".
"Some teachers, parents and school administrators discourage blogging, concerned that the security of the child is at risk. Sadly, there are instances of adults taking advantage of children using the Internet. With this in mind, many schools prefer to limit access to the blogs or at least limit commenting privileges. Some blogging platforms offer the teacher the ability to approve the comments before the students have access to the content. While this method may place a little more administrative duties on the teacher, the depth and breadth of the comments may make it all worth it".
"When teachers understand the educational value and implications of blogs, as well as, the security concerns of blogs, the decision to integrate blogs into the curriculum is natural".
Collective Learning
Group blogs is an effective way to enhance learning for individual children whilst working with others.
Children can build a blogging site together and communicate ideas and findings with one another through posts, rss feeds, links and many other tools.
The big picture they are building will grow with a combination of ideas and views as the children post their research and personal views.
It is my belief and that of many other teachers; to encourage children to bring into the classroom, knowledge they've aquired from their proir experiences and background.
Blogging allows for children to share this knowledge with others and to apply it to the knew knowledge they gain during collective learning experiences.
Classrooms can have a connecting blog where it provides links to all groups and individuals blogs. This can be a space where everything is tied together and where children developing blogs can post questions and ask questions of the teacher and other members of the class.
Collective learning is a valuable experience for both children and adults. Blogging now makes it easier to connect with one another and create a community of people who share the same views or share opposing views on topics/issues.
Children can build a blogging site together and communicate ideas and findings with one another through posts, rss feeds, links and many other tools.
The big picture they are building will grow with a combination of ideas and views as the children post their research and personal views.
It is my belief and that of many other teachers; to encourage children to bring into the classroom, knowledge they've aquired from their proir experiences and background.
Blogging allows for children to share this knowledge with others and to apply it to the knew knowledge they gain during collective learning experiences.
Classrooms can have a connecting blog where it provides links to all groups and individuals blogs. This can be a space where everything is tied together and where children developing blogs can post questions and ask questions of the teacher and other members of the class.
Collective learning is a valuable experience for both children and adults. Blogging now makes it easier to connect with one another and create a community of people who share the same views or share opposing views on topics/issues.
Who should blog in the classroom
Blogging helps to connect children inside and outside of the classroom. A valid comment was made in Charles Nelson blog; How to use blogs in the classroom he discussed comments made by other bloggers about the management of blogging with younger children.
A major point discussed was the understandings younger children have with regards to private and public information.
Publishing blogs means that the information is available to the world wide web and anyone can view the postings. Children need clear guidelines on what information they can post and what they don't.
Blogging with younger children should also have selected topics to write about. For example fictional stories and poems.
Blogging in the classroom is intended to enhance childrens learning, not put the children in danger.
Blog safely in the classroom.
A major point discussed was the understandings younger children have with regards to private and public information.
Publishing blogs means that the information is available to the world wide web and anyone can view the postings. Children need clear guidelines on what information they can post and what they don't.
Blogging with younger children should also have selected topics to write about. For example fictional stories and poems.
Blogging in the classroom is intended to enhance childrens learning, not put the children in danger.
Blog safely in the classroom.
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