the potential use of blogs as a
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
The Potential Use of Blogs as a Learning Technology
“G MAN THE TEACHOLOGIST”
FEBRUARY 28, 2011
By Gregory Rooks
The Potential Use of Blogs as a Learning Technology
Introducing the Concept of a Blog
Let us start with introducing the concept of a blog. What is a blog, you may ask? According to Blogger.com :http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g, a blog is a personal diary:
What's a blog?A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.
Introducing the Concept of a Blog
Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Or not.
Introducing the Concept of a Blog
Since Blogger was launched in 1999, blogs have reshaped the web, impacted politics, shaken up journalism, and enabled millions of people to have a voice and connect with others.
And we're pretty sure the whole deal is just getting started.
The Blog’s Use as a Learning Technology
The three learning theories according to
Schuman, L. (1996). Perspectives on instruction. Available: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec540/Perspectives/Perspectives.html,
are:
Behaviorism, Cognitivism and Constructivism:
The Basics
Based on observable changes in behavior. Behaviorism focuses on a new behavioral pattern being repeated until it becomes automatic.
Behaviorism:
Based on the thought process behind the behavior. Changes in behavior are observed, and used as indicators as to what is happening inside the learner's mind. Blogs cannot observe behavioral changes to determine what is in the learner’s mind.
The Blog’s Use as a Learning Technology
Cognitivism:Based on the premise that we all construct our own perspective of the world, through individual experiences and schema. Constructivism focuses on preparing the learner to problem solve inambiguous situations (Schuman, 1996). Blogs are a very good match with the Cognitivist theory of leaning
The Blog’s Use as a Learning Technology
Constructivism:Based on the premise that we all construct our own perspective of the world, through individual experiences and schema. Constructivism focuses on preparing the learner to problem solve inambiguous situations (Schuman, 1996). Problem solving inambiguous situations is a good match for using Blogs as a learning tool.
Publish Your Thoughts
A blog gives you your own voice on the web. It's a place to collect and share things that you find interesting—
whether it's your political commentary, a personal diary, or links to web sites you want to remember.
Many people use a blog just to organize their own thoughts, while others command influential, worldwide audiences of thousands. Professional and amateur journalists use blogs to publish breaking news, while personal journalers reveal inner thoughts.Whatever you have to say, Blogger can help you say it.
Blogging is about more than just putting your thoughts on the web. It's about connecting with and hearing from anyone who reads your work.
With Blogger, you control who can read and write to your blog — let just a few friends or the entire world see what you have to say!
Blogger Comments let anyone, anywhere, offer feedback on your posts. You can choose whether you want to allow comments on a post-by-post basis, and you can delete comments you don't like.
Access Controls let you decide who can read and who can write to your blog.
You can use a group blog with multiple authors as a communication tool for small teams, families and other groups. As a single author, you can create a private online space for collecting news, links, and ideas, to keep to yourself or share with as many readers as you want.
Blogger Profiles let you find people and blogs that share your interests. Your Blogger Profile, where you can list your blogs, your interests, and more, lets people find you (but only if you want to be found).
Here are ten popular blogs according to Margie Gelbwasser in her article: Gelbwasser, M.. (2009, September). THE TOP 20 TEACHER BLOGS. Instructor (1999), 119(2), 37-39. Retrieved February 28, 2011, from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1873816341).
10 POPULAR BLOGS
Whether you're starting your blog or just think it's time to give your existing blog a facelift, Blogger's user-friendly editing tools help you easily design a great-looking page.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CREATE
AND USE A BLOG
According to go.blogger.com
Design your blog
— Our Template Designer lets you easily create a blog that looks uniquely yours. With just a click after selecting a template, you can choose the colors, fonts, layout, and background of your blog. But, for users who want even more control, you can use our Advanced Design Features to do everything from changing the color of links to adding custom CSS.
Template Designer
— Blogger's simple drag-and-drop system lets you easily decide exactly where your posts, profiles, archives and other parts of your blog should live on the page.
Drag-and-drop page elements
You’re never more than a click away from sharing your favorite photo. Just click the photo icon to upload a photo from your computer. If the photo you'd like to put on your blog is already on the web, that's fine too. Just paste the URL and we’ll put the image in your post.
You can also send camera phone photos straight to your blog while you're on-the-go with Blogger Mobile.
Photos Photos Photos
Mobile BlogSpot optimizes the layout of your blog for those reading your blog from a mobile device. To see what your blog could look like on mobile devices check out the preview functionality by going to the Dashboard > Settings > Email & Mobile tab.
Go Mobile
SMS/MMS posting lets you send text, photos and even videos straight to your blog while you're on-the-go. All you need to do is send a message to [email protected] from your phone. You don't even need a Blogger account. The message itself is enough to create a brand new blog and post whatever photo and text you've sent. Later, you can claim your mobile blog or switch your posts to another blog; just sign in to go.blogger.com and use the claim code Blogger sent to your phone.
Email posting is another option to consider if SMS/MMS posting is unavailable from your mobile carrier. Find out how you can use the Mail-to-Blogger feature to post by email.
11. Best Student-Written Blog
YOUTH VOICES, youthuoices.net
THE LOWDOWN: Students and their teachers participate in a "colossal ongoing discussion about everything" via podcasts, videos, and blogs.
WHY WE LOVE IT: This blog turns the typical student-teacher relationship on its head with both parties acting as equals and learning from each other.
Additional Blog ResourcesHere are ten additional popular blogs according to Margie Gelbwasser in her article: Gelbwasser, M.. (2009, September). THE TOP 20 TEACHER BLOGS. Instructor (1999), 119(2), 37-39. Retrieved February 28, 2011,from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1873816341).
12. Best Tell-lt-Like-IMs Blog
ITS NOT ALL FLOWERS AND SAUSAGES, itsnofallfioiversandsausages.blogspot.com.
THE LOWDOWN: A second-grade teacher with the pseudonym Mrs. Mimi dishes about the crazy side of teaching.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Fantasies of throwing down with that colleague who rummages through your desk? Horror field-trip moments that have carved a permanent groove in your mind? Faculty-room shenanigans that rule your day? Thanks to Mrs. Mimi, we never have to feel alone.
WHY SHE LOVES BLOGGING: Says Mrs. Mimi, "It's comforting to know that I am not alone in my frustrations."
Additional Blog Resources
13. Best Laugh-Out-Loud Blog
REGURGITATED ALPHA BITS, regurgitatedalphabits.blogspot.com
THE LOWDOWN: Anonymous elementary school teacher blogs about the students she loves and the job she hates.
WHY WE LOVE IT: This blog gives you totally true antics of the elementary school kind and tips you can really use: Preview "educational" videos before showing and be alert for fourth-grade make-out sessions! Perfect with a good cup of coffee, when you need to block out irritating colleagues, and when you could use a good laugh to start your day.
Additional Blog Resources
14. U. Best for Media Specialists
TECHNO TUESDAY, blog.cathyjonelson.com
THE LOWDOWN: Media specialist Cathy Nelson provides tips on incorporating library technology into lessons.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Nelson shares creative research ideas as well as humorous daily tidbits.
WHY SHE LOVES BLOGGING: Says Nelson, "It enhances my ability to be reflective, to see how I have learned from others."
15. Best for Problem Solving
CLASSROOM SOLUTIONS, blogs.scholastic.com/classroom_solutions
THE LOWDOWN: Hear straight from Scholastic's team of teacher advisors on topics ranging from reader's workshop to discipline and organization.
WHY WE LOVE IT: AU of the photos and videos! Almost every post features a photo showing exactly how the teacher advisor implemented an idea in his or her classroom. You can also subscribe to the posts for just your grade level.
16. Best Substitute Secrets
JUST A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, kauaimark.blogspot.com.
THE LOWDOWN: "Mr. Homework" tells harrowing tales of the substitute kind.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Let's be honest. Sometimes we'd rather come in sick than call in a sub. Mr. Homework, however, is one of the good guys. His outlook on the sub life (e.g., "Sometimes it's not about actually teaching anything") makes us wish he was in our district.
17. Most Entertaining Math Blog
HOODA MATH BLOG, hoodamathblog.com
THE LOWDOWN: Math teacher Michael Ed Laviteli uses games to teach math.
WHY WE LOVE IT: The word games may conjure images of worksheets with cutesy pics and fill-ins, but Edlavitch goes way beyond that. His arcade games with Flash - complete with worksheets teachers can print out - are reminiscent of old favorites like Pac-Man. Kids will play video games anyway, why not sneak in some learning potential?
18. Best Classroom Use of Blogs
LEARNING IS MESSY, learningismessy.com/blog
THE LOWDOWN: Brian Crosby discusses how he uses blogging and other technology in the classroom.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Crosby's creativity can't help but draw us in. He has used Skype to broadcast, a class visit from Christa McAuliffe's mother and to communicate with a student who is on home instruction due to leukemia.
WHY HE LOVES BLOGGING: Says Crosby, "It is the strongest resource I have experienced in 28 years of teaching."
19. Best View of the Inner City
THE JOSE VILSON, thejosevilson.com/blog
THE LOWDOWN: Artist, poet, and math educator Jose Vilson gives the inner city a human face by blogging about sometimes touchy topics.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Vilson does not shy away from tackling the controversial, such as his entry about the shortage of black Latino male teachers like himself. He's passionate about changing education and exposing inner-city reality, and his passion is contagious.
20. Best Blog From Outside the Classroom
TALES FROM THE SCHOOL BUS, talesofaschoolb usdriver. blogspot.co m
THE LOWDOWN: A school bus driver fills us in on the insanity that goes on before students enter the classroom every morning and after they leave.
WHY WE LOVE IT: We all have to multitask, but try keeping order and driving at the same time! This blog gives us the dirt - from failing brakes to bus "heathens" like Whiny Girl. This is a side of school we often overlook!
A YEAR OF READING, readingyear.blogspot.com
Blogger.com:http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g, a blog is a personal diary
CREATING LIFELONG LEARNERS, needleworkspictures.com
DIGITAL ANTHOLOGY, di.gitalanthol.ogy.blogspot.com
DOCERE EST DISCERE, docereestdiscere.ivordpress.com
Gelbwasser, M.. (2009, September). THE TOP 20 TEACHER
BLOGS. Instructor
(1999), 119(2), 37-39. Retrieved February 28, 2011, from ProQuest
Education Journals. (Document ID: 1873816341).
INTEGRATING TECH, thespiari70.blogspot.com
References
ITS NOT ALL FLOWERS AND SAUSAGES,
itsnofallfioiversandsausages.blogspot.com
HOODA MATH BLOG, hoodamathblog.com
JUST A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, kauaimark.blogspot.com
LEARNING IS MESSY, learningismessy.com/blog
MRS. CASSlDYS CLASSROOM BLOG
classblogmeister. com/blog.php ?blogger_id = 1337
References
PRINCIPALS PAGE, principalspage.com/theblog
REGURGITATED ALPHA BITS, regurgitatedalphabits.blogspot.comSchuman, L. (1996). Perspectives on instruction. [On-line]. Available: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec540/Perspectives/Perspectives.html
SCIENCE FIX, sciencefix.com
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO CREATE AND USE A BLOG,
go.blogger.com
TALES FROM THE SCHOOL BUS, talesofaschoolb usdriver.
blogspot.com
References
TEACH FOR.US, teachfor.us
TECHNO TUESDAY, blog.cathyjonelson.com
THE JOSE VILSON, thejosevilson.com/blog
THE TEACHING PALETTE, lheteachingpalette.com/blog
YOUTH VOICES, youthuoices.net
References
Thank You For Viewing This Presentation!