“Blogging and wikis are useful practice for the development of higher order learning skills, active, learner-centered pedagogy, authentic learning, associative thinking, and interactive learning communities”

(O‘Donnell, 2006; Farmer, 2006).

BLOGS AS PD

“Schools are hostile and inhospitable places for teacher learning….The few moments that we can steal for professional development are usually spent in sessions with experts pitching the latest silver bullet.”

Bill Ferriter  

Blogs act as fresh "portals through which new knowledge about teaching and learning can

enter schools" (Elmore 2002).

“It is not about the technology; it’s about sharing knowledge and information, communicating

efficiently, building learning communities and creating a culture of professionalism in schools.

These are the key responsibilities of all educational leaders”.

– Marion Ginapolis

The new Australian curriculum requires us to foster new literacies. It is not just a matter of transferring classroom writing into digital spaces. Blogging allows teachers to write for a public audience, to show how to cite and link and why, and how to use and comment on pedagogy.

Blogging will enable us to teach students to critically engage media. Students need instruction on how to become efficient navigators in these digital spaces where they will be obtaining a majority of their information.

Why Teachers Should Blog:

• Grow communities of discourse and knowledge — a space where teachers can learn from each other.

• New perspective on the meaning of voice. Other professional voices are essential to the conversations we need to have about learning.

• Encourages global conversations about learning–conversations not previously possible in our classrooms.

• Records ongoing learning. It facilitates reflection and evaluation.

• Opportunity for collective and collaborative learning is enormous.

 

Why Students Should Blog:

• Opportunity to read their classmates’ blogs and those of others.

• Connecting with experts on the topic students are writing.

• The interactivity creates enthusiasm for writing and communication.

• Engages students in conversation and learning.• Blogging provides the opportunity for our students

to learn to write for life-long learning.• Opportunity to learn about responsible public

writing. Students can learn about the power of the published word and the responsibilities involved with public writing.

 

 

“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through

which we experience much of our world.”

David Warlick

Slide 3Teachers rarely get to self-select learning

opportunities, pursue professional passions, or engage in meaningful, ongoing conversations

about instruction….most of the programs we are exposed to are drawn directly from the latest

craze sweeping the business world….A history of poor professional development experiences has

left them jaded and stagnant, groaning when given "opportunities to learn."

Slide 4

In every content area and grade level and in

schools of varying sizes and from different

geographic locations, accomplished teachers are

actively reflecting on instruction, challenging

assumptions, questioning policies, offering

advice, designing solutions, and learning

together. And all this collective knowledge is

readily available for free.

Slide 5RSS Feeds (Rich Site Summary)

  Find several blogs that target educators in your stage

level or content area and organize them with an aggregator of your choice. Dedicate a few minutes each day to browsing the changing content in your

aggregator. Notice how new posts are added automatically. Make a commitment to reading two or

three entries each week. Find topics that motivate you and challenge your thinking. Leave comments for the authors and see whether they respond. Engage other readers in conversations or friendly debate.