My new experience with blogs has left me very impressed and motivated to use them inside the classroom as well as for homework assessments. The blog can be used for a variety of methods. For one, students can use it as a journal for their own personal learning journey. Secondly, it can be used by the teacher to post work. Thirdly, students can use blogs to collaborate on work and discuss ideas and perspectives. Blogs work well with students as they have more time to properly state what they want to say without pressure from peers.
The potential of blogs is great. Students may discuss, debate, act, role-play, journal, confer, interview, build, and create, all within the one tool. When numerous examples of learning occur, it is important to know whether it is getting somewhere or whether the students simply forget it. Dale's Cone is a great example of how learning should occur and when it occurs best. While blogs on their own cannot deliver each result, it is a tool for reflection upon these learning experiences and can help students make sense of their experiences within a community setting.
The Abilene Christian University Adams Center for Teaching Excellence (2009), What is Active Learning + Why use Active Learning, Abilene, http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whyuseal.htm
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Hi Damian
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of giving students the opportunity to think about what they have learnt and then letting them respond when they are ready. Too often teachers expect students to comment on their thoughts immediately after the teacher has finished explaining a new concept. This isn't allowing students much time to process the information and consequently, their response may not be as insightful as could be hoped.
I think blogs are a great way for teachers to gauge how much of what has been understood by students and for students, they promote critical thinking and reflection skills. Moreover, blogs provide a means for the more introverted students to better express their thoughts and opinions in a context where they will not be overshadowed by more dominant personalities or feel to 'embarrassed' to lodge their thoughts.
Lyneale
Thanks Lyneale,
ReplyDeleteYou have made some excellent points, adding to my blog your expertise in the area.
Regards, Damian.