Week 3 - Web Spaces

Digital Spaces - Blogs for Learning

A Reflection On Blogs

Before being introduced to a blog I was unsure on how I felt about it. However, after using a blog I can definitely say that it is a fun way to reflect, critically think, and connect with a wider audience. Just in case you are thinking of starting a blog, let me tell you that it is not as hard as it looks. All you need, is to find your preferred blog host (e.g. Google's Blogger), have a capturing title, a good imagination and most importantly creativity! A blog can be a space where you keep all the different texts you find important and wish to have quick access to. These include videos, pictures, podcasts, graphic designs, links to other websites, articles and so on. As Kathleen Moris (2018) puts it, "it's like having your own digital cabinet". 

Below is a short video that gives a quick explanation on the features of a blog:

As you were able to see in that video, a blog can be customised according to your personal style. You can use your own layout, theme, font, name description and blog address. With Google's Blogger you can also choose to multi-author by permitting other authors to edit and have access to your blog. You can also embed YouTube Clips, links, special characters, images and more. 

How Can Blogs be Used in the Classroom?

Blogs can be a great tool in the education sector as it allows teachers to have access to the way students think, identify areas where students need further direction, and provide individualised feedback to learners. This can be easily done through the comment section which can be found at the footer part of a student's page. This makes sure that students have quick access to feedback which helps improve student learning. 

 

My blog's comment section: 

https://eirninikolblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-samr-model.html

Allowing students to engage in creating their own blog will not only get them out of their comfort zone, but it will also help them develop their digital literacy. Through blogging students get the chance to develop many ICT skills which assists them in becoming digitally literate. For example, students can develop skills in using images and videos, managing passwords and hyperlinks, using tags and/or categories, and structuring different texts. 

The SAMR Model 

In one of my previous blogs I explained the SAMR model and how it promotes high order thinking. Now we are going to look deeper into how the SAMR model could be applied in the classroom if the teacher wanted to integrate blogs in the classroom. In this instance, students will use Google's Blogger (which is what I have been using) to record their reflections throughout week 1 of school. 

Substitution

Students are asked to keep notes on their notebooks about what has been happening during the week. On Friday, students are asked to type up their notes and organise them into separate reflections for each day. Teacher asks students to print out their reflections. Students hand up their reflections and teacher provides written feedback. 

Augmentation

Students use apps such as Word and Publisher to type up their reflections and check for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Students are encouraged to insert pictures to enhance their reflections. In order to get feedback students email their document to the teacher. The teacher marks the document electronically and sends an email back to the student. 

Modification 

Teacher introduces Google's Blogger to the students and asks them to create a blog discussing about their day. Students repeat for the rest of the days of the week. Students are encouraged to use pictures, diagrams and videos in their reflections. Once students publish their blogs they are asked to comment on another student's blog. Teacher also comments on every student's blogs providing individualised feedback. Students can work on their blog in their own time and in class. 

Redefinition

Teacher encourages students to work in groups and have integrated blogs. Three or four students are working in a blog together and everyone is adding their own experiences to the blog. Students give suggestions to each other on how they can better improve their blogs. Students are then asked to share their blogs with classmates from the other groups and get feedback. Teacher then shares their blogs with teachers and parents on the school forum or electronic newsletter where parents and other teachers get to comment on the students' blogs and provide feedback. Students work together to update their blogs and apply all the feedback received from students, parents and teachers. 

This model shows how a teacher can move from the traditional classroom environment and start integrating high-order thinking. By allowing students to use ICT, especially ICT pedagogies where students get to work together, the teacher promotes collaboration, critical thinking, team leadership, problem-solving and evaluation within the classroom. This is why is important to find ICT pegagogies that will enhance student learning. 

Having a Look into Ethics

It is very important to discuss the safe, ethical and legal protocols that need to be considered when students are working with technologies. As outlined in  Topic 2: The nature of digital pedagogy by Year 10 learners should be able to:

1) Recognise intellectual property

•  students should be able to protect intellectual property by applying safe practices as well as understanding and identifying ethical dilemmas. 

2) Apply digital information security practices 

• Students should familiarise themselves with strategies that protect and secure information.
• Students should establish appropriate codes of conduct and find security strategies.
• Students should access the risks associates with online networks. 

3) Apply personal security protocols

• Students should be able to apply strategies that protect their rights, privacy, identity and emotional safety of others when engaging with pedagogical technologies. 
• When collaborating with global communities, students should take safety measures and be able to discriminate between protocols suitable for different ways of communication.

4) Identify the impacts of ICT society

• Students should be able to determine the impact ICT has on society and the workforce and consider its role in the future and how they can influence its use. 

References

Morris, K. (20 March 2021). Why teachers and students should blog: 18 benefits of educational blogging. http://www.kathleenamorris.com/2018/03/14/benefits-blogging/ 

Hobdell, G. (20 March 2021). Topic 2: The nature of digital pedagogy. [Lecture Notes]. CQU Moodle. https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=1412185&chapterid=108994