Blog short for Web Log is a publicly accessible online journal that can be frequently updated by the author, allowing interested followers to view and comment on the author's listed posts (Gunelius, 2009).
After creating my own blog account, I discovered that blogs are very easy to navigate and that I thoroughly enjoy reading others.
I am constantly thinking of ways how I can incorporate blogs as a meaningful educational tool within the classroom. I have found that the ideas and opportunities are endless across all year levels and key learning areas (KLA's), as they all can easily incorporate the use of this effective e-learning tool.
For example learning managers can provide students the opportunity to write reflective journals about a chosen topic such as 'On the holidays', or create a blog as a class website for easy access of recommended resources. Providing them the opportunity to communicate with their peers by sharing ideas and thoughts outside the restricted classroom environment.
Kearsley & Shneiderman's (1999) Engagement Theory supports these suggestions as they state "students must be meaningfully engaged in learning activities through interaction with others and worthwhile tasks."
Therefore allowing students the opportunity to publish a class blog about a chosen topic enables the students' control of their learning creating a sense of meaning behind the task. This type of learning tool would require constant monitoring from the learning manager and assessment or criteria guidelines would have to be discussed prior to students' engagement with the learning tool.
Until next time,
References:
Gunelius, S. (2009). What is a Blog?: An essential Introduction. Retrieved August 13,2009,
from http://weblogsabout.com/od/startingablog/p/What IsABlog.htm
Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 13,2009,
from http://home.sprynet.com/%7Egkearsley/engage.htm
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