A current technology that has emerged in the last few years is blogging. Blogging can be a formative innovation that can shape learning and productivity in the proprietary school industry. Blogging can be exciting and can include images, photos, links, video, audio, or simply text. The students seem to enjoy blogging. Blog posting is a good way for students to improve their grammar, reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Students can collaborate with other students as well share ideas, opinions and valuable/significant information about their course of study.
Problem and challenges associated with this technology is (1) some teachers and administrators associate blogging with social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. (2) some schools have not upgraded to Web 2.0, which enhances blogging capabilities. Web 2.0 offers a faster and more reliable access to the Internet and the World Wide Web.
The societal need that blogging meets and the benefits, are supported by research done by Farmer, B., Yue, A., & Brooks, C. in 2008. Farmer et al., (2008) did a case study of the development and use of a blogging resource in a large-cohort first year arts subject at the University of Melbourne. Evaluation is ongoing, but initial results offer support for the potential of blogging as an enabling learning tool in higher education. The dynamic capacity of blogging as a communicative channel for both individual self expression and social connectivity has fuelled increasing interest in blogging as an educational resource (Williams & Jacobs, 2004; Burgess, 2006).
What would make this technology even better, plus avoiding the pitfalls I identified? Professional development workshops for teachers and administers which elaborates on the viewpoint of the proponents of educational social networking tools. Proponents of educational blogging proclaim it as an effective tool for user centered, participatory learning; arguing that it contributes vitally “to a reconceptualization of students as critical, collaborative, and creative participants in the social construction of knowledge” (Burgess, 2006, p. 105). Drawing on the social constructivist educational theories of Vygotski, Ferdig and Trammell (2004) usefully explicate the four central pedagogic benefits of blogging for students:
·Assisting students to become subject matter experts through a process of regular scouring, filtering and posting.
·Increasing student interest and ownership in learning.
·Giving students legitimate chances to participate and enculturating them into a community of practice.
·Providing opportunities for diverse perspectives (Farmer, et al., 2008).
Another component that would make this technology even better, would be to interface blogging with a networking system that has Web 2.0 installed on it server.
http://www.thereadingworkshop.com/.../benefits-of-blogging.html
Farmer, B., Yue, A., & Brooks, C. (2008). Using blogging for higher order learning in large cohort university teaching: A case study. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 24(2), 123-136. Retrieved Sept. 19, 2010
http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet24/farmer.pdf
Thornburg, D. D. (2009a). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.
Farmer, B., Yue, A., & Brooks, C. (2008). Using blogging for higher order learning in large cohort university teaching: A case study. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 24(2), 123-136. Retrieved Sept. 19, 2010
http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet24/farmer.pdf
Thornburg, D. D. (2009a). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.
Joanne-
ReplyDeleteblogging has been a big help to me, it allows me to interact with classmates in another venue. It may even be something I will continue when I not graded ;). I would also like to add this to my classroom, my school district recently bought software that I am planning to use, the issue becomes how do I accomodate students that lack the technology at home...
I am a big advocate of utilizing social networking tools in education. The creation of Web 2.0 technologies have transformed the way society communicates with each other. You have pointed out many benefits of incorporating blogging in education, but I will have to agree that many parents and instructors are not aware of the positive aspects of the technology because they are to busy focusing on the negative stigma placed on social networking as a whole.
ReplyDeleteA critical aspect to persuading others to try new technology is communication. Your notion of staff developments will break the information gap.
ReplyDeleteWe hear about all the good strategies concerning social networking, but, at least for my situation, they are not taking off in the educational environment. Do you think time is a factor? It takes a considerable amount of time away from the school setting to set up and monitor a blog. I wonder if this is a factor as to why this technology is still emerging or nonexistent.
Hi Joanne,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your challenges surrounding upgrading to this technology. Social networks are different than blogs. I really believe the collaboration aspect in educational technology is the most important benefit of identifying blogs as an emerging technology. Great Post.
Brenda