Blogging
There is no doubt that blogging is a fantastic tool, which has been embraced by countless individuals all over the globe. It is hard to come by reliable, up-to-date figures: but in 2010, it was estimated that there were 152 million blogs. That number has no doubt exploded since then ....
So why create a blog?
The aims and content can vary enormously. I will outline but a few: some simply wish to share their daily thoughts, activities and musings with the world. Some share painful and candid details of their lives. Others present their hobbies, from cooking to car mechanics. Yet others choose blogs for commercial reasons; marketing products and services. Many representatives within the field of education have embraced the power and flexibility of the blog, which I will focus on later.
On a much more somber note, blogs can also be used by brave individuals to express their political message to a wider audience, while risking the real danger of censorship, arrestation and punishment by repressive regimes. They deserve our respect and attention.
Blogging and Web 2.0...some thoughts
Blogging is empowerment of the individual, on a scale hitherto unseen. The consequences are far-reaching. The simplest blog tools have user-friendly interfaces; an account , a few minutes of typing and off you go..the potential audience of billions awaits you. The possibilities of success and failure, fame and infamity, edification or entertainment are within your reach. The result can be intimidating for some, addictive for others. The one thing we can agree on however, is that the concept of blogging is undoubtedly one of the most successful elements of Web 2.0 technology.
Why create a blog with a class?
There are so many talented professional individuals within the field of education who create and maintain excellent blogs: Guttorm Hveem, Jan Arve Overland, Jill Walker, Anne S. Michaelsen and Ingunn Kjøl Wiig to name but a very few...Their skills, knowledge and experience which they choose to share with us are invaluable for complete novices like me ...who are struggling in cyberspace and who know so little....
Wiig, a Norwegian teacher at Sandvika - has pointed out the advantages of blogging within the classrorom , in her slide share "Hvordan lære i digitale nettverk" (Please note that these are my translations and interpretation, with some additional comments and may not reflect Wiigs original intentions and point of view in all matters)
Wiig talks about how blogging addresses the following needs:
- the aspect of basic skills: being able to use digital tools ( that is relevant for all subjects within The Knowledge Promotion)
- the production of composite texts using digital media ( also a competence aim within English)
- it encourages and allows reflection
- it allows students and teachers to discuss - as we know, communication and cooperation leads to learning and the development of skills
- it gives new areana for feedback and feedfoward - focus on evaluation that actually leads to learning
- it allows the students to maintain an overview of their work
Wiig continues by pointing out the advantages for the teacher: (again. my translation with comments)
- blogging allows us to see the "reserved student" who struggle to make their voice heard in a classroom ( their thoughts and skills can get a whole new lease of life when published)
- it allows us to develop skills
- we get a structured source of products and skills for evaluation purposes: we can see the process and the development the student has undergone, as well as the end result
- it is useful in relation to exam preparation
- it can also be used in relation to portfolio evaluation
As we can see, there are many advantages. To get to this level, however, I can see that I have to learn a lot more!
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