As mentioned in the previous post, blogging is a valuable reflective tool for educators, because they can record their experiences and opinions, and subsequently receive feedback from their peers. The internet has made it possible for teachers to exchange ideas on a world-wide, instantaneous scale. No longer are we limited to the perspectives of those working directly with us; our colleagues and peers suddenly become individuals from all over the globe.

http://biznik.com/images/groups/large/world.jpg

One blogger might express their opinion on a particular educational issue or teaching experience. With site-visitors responding to the initial comment with statements of their own, it is possible to establish meaningful dialogue where those involved exposed to alternative perspectives.

Have a look at Bill Ferriter’s blog: The Tempered Radical. One of his posts is titled “Barkin’ Dawgs and Miserably Poor Policy…” In it, he expresses his beliefs about teachers who claim that they don’t have the time to discover/apply new technologies. He feels that new technologies are ‘designed to save users time or to enhance the quality of their lives’.

Some viewers agreed. Joh, stated that ‘I think the sad thing is that the resistance of teachers to commit to new technology is what is stalling it from saving us time.’ Another user, Patty, is open to the idea, but poses the question: “If we have been doing something the same way for such a long time, how do we make the change?” Conversely, Mike stated “Sorry to rain on the parade a bit, but in the daily rush of trying to teach sufficient material, grading, lesson preparation, etc. I find such diversions to be a luxury for which I don’t have time”

So as you can see from this case-study, blogs can be used to provoke professional dialogue, where ideas and experiences are exchanged between individuals from all over the world. (An opportunity which is made possible through the use of the internet and blogging tools such as Edublogs).

According to Loving et. al. the use of blogs is ‘one way to encourage teachers to reflect with others about what is working and why’ (2007, p.182). However, there are a number of barriers which prevent educators from feeling confident in their ability to utilise this type of tool. Two commonly cited objections include lack of time and training. In order to increase participation rates, schools (and tertiary institutions) need to provide teachers with the opportunity to increase their skills and knowledge (and this is best done through practical demonstrations and frequent exposure.

 It is worth the effort. Teachers should pursue blogs as another tool to be used in the consolidation of a professional learning community.

Hernandez-Ramos argues that many beginning teachers experience low job satisfaction because of they ‘lack a voice in daily professional practice’ (2004, p.2). Blogs therefore, are a potential tool to reduce rates of teacher-attrition. This is a reasonable suggestion because by nature, blogs allow teachers to express themselves to an audience of similarly trained individuals who are able to provide insight and support.

References

Hernandez-Ramos Pedro, P. (2004). Web logs and online discussion as tools to promote reflective practice. The Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 3(1), 1-16.

Loving, C., Schroeder, C., Kang, R., Shimek, C. & Herbert, B. (2007). Blogs: Enhancing Links in a Professional Learning Community of Science and Mathematics Teachers. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education. 7 (3), pp. 178-198. AACE.

Parents like to feel that they are part of their child’s education.  Blogs help parents to stay informed and up-to-date with what’s currently happening in the classroom.

Consider the following parents experience,

“When Sophie came home on the first day talking about the new kids she had met, we were able to check the blog to put faces to all of the new names thanks to first day pictures posted on the blog. Last week Sophie came home super excited about the “Insect Song” they sang in class. That night, we listened to the kids singing it from the front row. We have always appreciated the insight into our kids’ days that we get from weekly or monthly parent letters, but the immediacy and multi-media goodness of Mrs. Morrison’s regularly updated blog makes us feel like we are there for some of it. What more can a parent ask for?”

A blog can have pages set up just for ‘parent communication’ and may include information such as:

* class newsletters* reminders

* a class timetable

* when students need their library bags

* homework requirements

* requests for parent helpers during reading/maths groups

* online resources and links to other sites to help with homework

Note: It is important to remember that a classroom blog should only supplement other forms of communication between the class teacher and the home environment.

Having a classroom blog benefits both students and teachers in the classroom.  Some of the benefits are outlined below.

* An Authentic Worldwide Audience – The beauty of computers in the classroom is they allow things to be done that could never be done before. Parents, other students, teachers, grandparents, relatives and people from all over the world are able to communicate and share their ideas, creations and knowledge at a central online destination.

* Engagement & Motivation – Speaks for itself really! Students love going to ‘computers’ or ‘technology’.  Now you can bring that enthusiasm into your classroom to enhance every lesson.  Having a classroom blog will extend this motivation for learning into the home environment.

* The Comments Function – The ability to comment on a friend’s work, a classmate’s work, the teacher’s work and an almost unknown person on the other side of the world provides instant feedback and is great motivation for the students.

* Ethics, Netiquette, Child Protection, Internet Security, Copyright & Digital Citizenship – Blogging gives you a real context for teaching all of these.

* Writing Processes – There are many writing processes that you can teach for particular text types and products. Blogging gives you a real context to teach these in. Writing is no longer something a child may need in their future. It is something they need NOW.

Benefits of blogging This link takes you to a Year 9 student’s blog and why she believes blogging is a valuable learning tool. Also notice that she has used some of the wigits that are currently present on this blog.

Here is another great example of how blogs can be used to promote learning within the primary classroom. The 2M Gems have incorporated some great tools onto their page (which makes for an interesting visit for viewers, and a great feedback tool for the creators).

Blog Folios

Each student has their own page, where they can share their work and receive feedback from their peers. Posts have been broken down into categories such as: about me, literacy block, numeracy block, inquiry block and special interests. This way, information is easily accessible and clearly presented

Hit Counter

• Students can view how many people have visited their blog, and are able to source their locations (from a graphic map). This is an effective way for them to gain a sense of their audience, as well as reminding them of their purpose (to inform, share and or entertain).

Maps and Travel Logs

• When their classroom teacher went travelling, the students are able to keep track of her experiences- a map of Australia and New Zealand was uploaded, and the locations she was to visit were marked. This gives students greater connection with the world beyond their school, in a particularly effective visual medium. While she was away, the teacher, Mrs M. was able to leave messages for her students via this post.

Students were able to reflect on their learning experiences, and share their new-found knowledge on the marine habitats of Tangaloomba and Manly

This blog has exposed me to a number of digital tools that I am interested in finding more about, including:

• Weather Pixie

• Glogster

• Wall Wisher

• Photo Peach

• AudioPal

Kath Cassidy is a year one teacher in Canada. She has created a blog for her class (with contributions by new groups of students each year). In her welcoming statement, she indicates that through this particular blog, she and her students ‘are inviting the world into the classroom to help [us] learn.’

The blog has incorporated a wide range of digital tools which have enabled students to share their learning experiences and communicate with the world around them. I chose to use this blog as a case study of how such technology can be used effectively within the primary classroom.

Students’ learning has been enriched because :

• - there is a sense of purpose to their learning (their work will be published to inform an online audience)
  - there is pride (their work is published, viewed and responded to by an online audience)
  - they can critically reflect on their learning (by creating videos discussing what they have learnt, and why it was important)
  - they can receive feedback from other students and teachers from around the world
  - They can contact students and teachers from around the world, and exchange ideas and experiences (which otherwise would not be possible)

The blog is also a great source of information for the students’ parents. They can see what their child is capable of achieving both as a class, and individually. Progress is chronologically documented, and globally accessible.

Below are some examples how Cassidy’s class have made use of blogging and other digital tools

• - At the beginning of the school year, they recorded what expectations they had about the year ahead, and uploaded consultations they had with other teachers via Skype.
  - They uploaded a Wordle document which creatively displayed some of their goals for the school year
  - Each student has their own page on the blog. The children selected a preferred background colour scheme, and uploaded a picture of themselves. Throughout the school year they add posts which document their learning experiences, about their personal interests and writing efforts. Cassidy has then been able to log on and edit their work (to correct grammar and spelling without deleting students’ original efforts).
  - Students have also uploaded video clips and slide (shows using i-movie and animoto) in which they discuss what they have learnt. This not only allows parents and other educators to keep up to date with what is being studied, but it also provides the students with an opportunity to think critically about their learning).

The students are also able to work collaboratively with other school children.

- They participated in readers theatre via Skype, performing ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’

 
- They have exchanged videos with students in Korea, where they ask and answer questions about
themselves and their day-to-day lives

Users of Blogs (whether they be student or teacher), need to take into consideration the ethical aspects of blogging. Patricia Deubel refers to Kuhn:

“Any workable code of blog ethics would need to strike a balance between factual truth and free expression”.  

This means that bloggers need to give careful thought to what they write about. Once published online, it is virtually impossible to take a comment back. Individuals are accountable for what they say, so they need to make sure that they cite any references they make, and comments regarding issues or people need to be truthful, and not defamatory or misleading. You should also be mindful about privacy: are you publishing names, photos or work-samples which will invade the privacy of others? Have they given you permission to upload their work?

In the school setting, it is recommended that teachers refer to their school’s internet use policy, as well as Commonwealth policy on copy-right matters. This issue does need to be discussed with the students. Class Blogmeister suggests that collectively, students and teachers should develop a blogging contract, which outlines acceptable and unacceptable online behaviour. Have a look here for a sample, sourced from Class Blogmeister.

According to Teaching Today, a blog serves four key functions within the classroom:
1. Classroom Management
2. Opportunities for Collaboration
3. Substantive Communication
4. Provision of Student Portfolios

A blog constructed for the use of a class has the potential to create and sustain a community of learners. It can act as a source of information and point of communication. The teacher can post homework, assignments and administrative notes online (so that it can be accessed by students and parents from within their homes). These individuals can also use the blog as a method of contacting the classroom teacher with questions and general feedback. Students can post their work on the class blog, where it can be received by an audience of peers, parents and community members. It is a way that ideas can be presented, and opinions discussed; potentially, the students could collaborate with other schools locally, nationally or internationally. They can also provide and receive feedback on work-samples. Blogs are a chronological record of postings that can be used to track and record student progress over an extended period of time. There is also the added motivation of seeing one’s work in print; their work suddenly has a new purpose (of informing and or entertaining an audience).

Depending who your talking to, reading or listening to, many people have different ideas on what truly constitutes blogging. The definitions below have been inspired by Adrian Bruce.

A ‘What’s Happening Blog’ – most teachers who use blogs use them to tell their class parents what’s happening in the class and as an organisation tool i.e. what homework due and when, materials required, when the students need their library bags, online ‘problem of the week’ puzzles etc

A Blog to ‘Encourage Conversation and Discourse’ – Many people feel that an online web presence is not really ‘blogging’ until the author interacts with or has a conversation with the world. It is this conversation that is the difference between a webpage and a blog. They also feel that this conversation makes blogs a powerful learning tool.

A Blog to ‘Showcase Student Work to the World’ - when a student writes a poem or creates a piece of art it is often only seen by about five people… the student, the teacher and the family of the child. Blogs offer the opportunity to showcase an individual’s work to the world and often this has a very positive effect on the quality of the work produced by the student.

A Blog as a ‘Learning Journal‘ – some teachers are using blogs as a reflection tool for classroom learning e.g. What questions do you still have about ………….. after today’s lesson.

A Blog as a ‘Worldwide Collaboration Tool‘ – you can set up a blog so that everyone in the world with Internet access can see what you are doing and you can work collaboratively with classes all over the world.

For more detail visit this article: 7 things you should know about blogging

The video below explains blogs in their simplest form.