I have recently had a look at the blog by Clay Burell entitled Beyond School. In his key note speech I particularly liked how he drew attention to blogs providing external recognition for the writer. To elaborate, you could be anyone of any race, of any size, of any description, anywhere in the world and when someone follows your blog or posts a comment you feel elated, happy and on top of the world. One of your most basic needs, the need for belonging is being meet as defined in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. I think for students blogging is potentially an excellent tool to create their own sense of belonging especially when as pointed out by Kunc, 1992, often more than not belonging is over looked in schools these days and replaced by academic achievement or physical prowess.
What I really Liked.....
I particularly liked the example in Clay Burell's speech, where he got students to create an online text book using a Wiki. The students worked together as a group collaborating on a project that had an authentic focus. This type of learning activity is greatly supported by the Engagement theory by Kearsley and Shneiderman that operates on the idea of tasks for students being able to RELATE-CREATE- DONATE.
What I took note of.....
I took particular note of Clive Burell when he summarized at the end of his key note that we shouldn't push people that do not want to engage with technologies and focus of people/students that are interested and want to learn. This was very similar to what Seth Godin said in his speech with TED speaks, about selling products/ideas to the right people. He basically said we should sell to the people that are already listening, to the ones that want to be sold to, they will then tell other people and so the idea/product can spread. I think this is an essential learning that I have taken from the topic so far. I have noticed that Scot does this in our course. He focuses on the students that demonstrate a real interest in ICT's hoping to engage others by spreading the ideas to them first. Well I feel I'm a great example of this strategy. Initially I was put off by ICT's but as more of my colleagues are embracing them and experimenting I find myself wanting to do the same.
So how do I get my learners to engage with and use ICT's ?
If it worked on me why reinvent the wheel. Why not get students to start their own reflective blog to get them used to ICT's. Have them set up a reader and get them to subscribe to other blogs of interest, making thoughtful comments on their peers blogs. Use pod casts, youtube examples of how to start a blog. Show them how to incorporate avatars, photos, youtube videos, etc to enhance their blog. Show your students your own blog and examples of other blogs like Clay Burells. Then introduce Wikis and how to set one up and use it for collaborative projects. I know this is not original but as I am exposed to more ICT's I will be able to add to this list and incorporate them in my teachings. Personal Challenge: So as a challenge to my self I will endeavour to seek out, learn and apply ICT's to my learning and in learning activities for my students.
This is a great summary of the benefits of bloging! Please watch!
Burell, C. 2009, 21st Century Teacher as Sorcerer's Apprentice. Reflections From The Rabbit Hole 5 Years In. Retrieved from http://beyond-school.org/
Godin, S. 2003, On Standing Out. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/seth_godin_on_sliced_bread.html
Kearsely, G., Shneiderman, B., Engagement Theory: A framework for technology- based teaching and learning. Retrived from: http://home.sprynet.com/-gkearsley/engage.htm
Kunc, N. (1992), The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Broadreach, Retrieved from http://www.normemma.com/armaslow.htm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment