Blogs
can be explained as being similar to a journal or diary entry with the
exception that the entries are open to read by an extensive audience rather
than being a private venture (Educational Technology and Mobile Learning, 2010,
para. 4). There are many different websites that offer blog accounts including
Edublogs, WordPress and Blogspot to name a few.
Blogging
takes the journal/diary entry experience to a whole other level. Blogs can be
created, edited and uploaded according to the author’s own style and readers
can comment on the entries. Media such as videos, pictures and texts can be
embedded into the blog and links can be made to other sites. Additionally,
blogs may be used in a vast range of professional, educational, and personal
contexts. Thus, blogs can contain practically anything the author chooses to
write about.
Blogs
can encourage creativity as it allows the author to customise the site to suit
their own preferences including background colour/pictures, layout and much
more. Additionally, blogs can encourage creative writing, build confidence in
students’ as writers and consequently improve students’ writing skills (Morris,
n.d., para. 1). Blogging not only allows learners to take ownership of their
writing but also provides students with the opportunity to engage with a wider
audience (Morris, n.d., para. 1).
Technical Aspects
Blogs
allow users to make many changes to the features of their blogs. By simply
clicking on the design button at the top right corner of the blog page, it
redirects you to a page that allows you to customise the blog to suit your
needs and style (as shown below).
The diagram below demonstrates
what each of these tabs entail.
As can be seen from the diagram above, the blog allows the author to do a multitude of things. It is easy to use and users can start as beginners and work their way up from there. Teachers should prepare students to use this technology by discussing cyber safety, access, identity, passwords, closed networks, disclosure, and pseudonyms. Additionally, teachers should consider the technical ability of the students and teach them the necessary skills to start blogging. There are many valuable resources online; both in written and video form, that guide beginners step-by-step through the processes associated with blogging. The video below ‘Blogging with students: How and Why’ by Lindsay Jordan elaborates on the use of blogs in classrooms.
What
learning outcomes can they support in your classroom?
Using blogging as a
medium may encourage students to think analytically and improve writing skills
(Morris, n.d., para. 22). Blogs can facilitate student collaboration, support
students to take ownership of their learning, teach students ICT skills, and
support their personal learning style and creativity. In addition, the use of
different strategies and learning frameworks that scaffold learning may further
support learning outcomes.
My two specialisation areas are Biology and History. Blogs will be a great tool to utilise as part of my teaching of these subjects. Students can complete reports, essays, research assignments and other tasks using blogs and other websites and present it using their own initiative and creativity. Along with blogs, I will utilise different learning frameworks such as SAMR, Bloom’s Taxonomy and Digital Pedagogy to scaffold student thinking and support their learning. A framework representing how these learning frameworks overlap can be viewed here.
Educational Technology and Mobile Learning.
(2010). The Ultimate Guide to The Use of Blogs in Teaching. Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/ultimate-guide-to-use-of-blogs-in.html
Jordan, L. (2009, May 9). Blogging
with students: How and Why [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T89bC3QF9g
Morris, G. (n.d.). Using Blogs in the Classroom.
Retrieved from
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/UMICH/sweetland/Home/Instructors/Teaching%20Resources/UsingBlogsintheClassroom.pdf
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