Week 3 - Engagement Activty 1

Creating A Blog - Reflection

 

Through this activity we are to reflect on the blogs that we have created and evaluate their value to the classroom learning environment and how we as teachers can implement this technology into the classroom. I will be using the SWOT method as my scaffolding to ensure that this reflection remains analytical.

 

 

Image from http://planasyougo.com/use-a-swot-analysis/ 



Strengths
 
Platform for individual and collaborative learning, easy to use, interactive learning, unlimited resources and links, engages learners, compatible with most (if not all) curriculum areas, allows users to connect with technologies.

Weaknesses

Internet access dependant, often opinionated learning (comments), monitoring of whole class difficult, is not an open forum only one person has 'control'.

Opportunities

Allows for ongoing learning, ability to involve the wider community (other classes, teachers, parents, schools etc.) in the learning, provides an easy way to monitor learning progress through postings and comments.

Threats

Inappropriate use (comments and content), poor student computer skills, students posting personal information, how does the blog get managed (what happens to the blog when no longer in use?). 

In using a blog as a learning tool in the Primary school context there are many positive ways that a blog can impact on the learning environment. Blogs allow for a greater reflection by students on their work, allows the teacher to see learning development and provides a chronological time line of when work is being completed (able to monitor progress). Blogs can also the wider community (parents, other teachers, students and schools) to comment/contribute to the learning environment. However, is using this medium as a learning tool there needs to be strict rules and guidelines in place to ensure the safety of the users and the content being posted.

Creating a blog in the classroom context is a great tool to promote interaction in the technological medium whilst also deepening the learning experience as the learners become more involved in the content and the processes involved. An ideal situation for blog use in the classroom would be group work.