Sunita Nair [email protected] |
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Introduction
Edublogs is Wordpress’ platform for blogs created specifically for educational purposes, http://edublogs.org/ . It archives and supports student and teacher learning by facilitating reflection, questioning by self and others, collaboration and by providing contexts for engaging in higher-order thinking. Blogging software makes it easier to create content for the Web without knowing much HTML.
Uses and Benefits:
Edublogs offers a support system for teachers wherein they can:
- access tools and gain support from fellow educators
- post important information such as homework, projects, exam
tips ,missed lessons, links to appropriate sites to gather
information for the student’s research
- showcase the creative work of students carried out individually or collectively
- allow students to create an ongoing portfolio of their work and involve themselves in discussions and reflection of
activities held in class
- communicate with parents who in turn can monitor their children's progress and understand classroom
expectations
http://edublogs.org/why-edublogs/
Setting up a Class Blog:
1) After creating a blog go to “Dashboard” and under “My Class” click on “Create a Class”.
2) The next step involves creating a new account for each student assigning a user name and password and
classifying it as a student blog.
3) Afterwards login to the teacher’s own blog site go to the Dashboard, open” Links” and click “Add New”. Make a link
for each student by filling the “Name “ typing the URL of the student’s blog made earlier and add to “Web Address”.
Type says “Joan’s Blog “under “Description.
4) A teacher’s class blog may also be linked to other classes s/he teaches. Just go to “Post” and then “Categories”
and label your next class and repeat the steps by pressing “Add New”. Student blogs are free provided they are
linked to the teacher’s blog made on Edublogs Pro.
A detailed description of setting up a class blog is provided in this blog site:
http://theresalchristensen.com/2014/06/20/begin-student-blogging-as-easy-as-1-2-3/
Edublogs is safe and reliable as it can be used in the private or public mode. It’s allowed by most school filters as it does not allow any inappropriate content and the widget Akismet automatically removes spammers. Its student friendly as it is very easy to navigate and use. It is rich in features encompassing a large number of widgets like video embedding, discussion tools, podcasts. It allows auto-post to popular social media like Facebook or Twitter. There are over 100 themes to choose from and on upgrading to Edublogs Pro more storage space and additional features can be acquired at an annual cost of $39.95. Mobile devices can download the Edublogs mobile app facilitating hassle-free anytime-anywhere blogging.
Given below are links of:-
A classroom blog: http://krebs.edublogs.org/
A student blog: http://gemmaccs11.edublogs.org/
A school blog: http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/
Weaknesses and challenges
The class site requires constant monitoring by the teacher as the posts and comments of each student need to be approved. The assessment of a student requires scrutiny of each student’s blog site. Information posted should be authenticated .This may prove to be a time consuming procedure especially if the teacher teaches a number of classes. Students should be taught to blog responsibly based on a proper set of guidelines and cautioned to avoid defamation, online bullying or plagiarism.
Application in An online classroom
The students can be divided into groups and assigned a project related to the topic under instruction in the class. They can post their collaborative effort on the classroom blog for discussion or critique by their peers .The work may be in the form of a video, concept map, digital poster, or PowerPoint presentation. A lot of the student’s input can be made at home affording more time in the lesson for more useful pursuits. The teacher can inspect the output to assess the students based on a pre-established rubric. In addition, adequate participation by each student can be ensured by a having a peer to peer assessment.
Learning objectives
After researching on greenhouse gases and global warming using the links provided by the instructor on the blog site, students will be able to associate various human activities leading to global warming. They can debate and summarize measures taken to overcome this threat to the environment and present a report on the blog.
All said and done blogs are digital platforms that provide students with a medium for sharing knowledge and experiences that go beyond the traditional means of reading and writing in classrooms. It instills in them the power of articulation, reflection and critical analysis and leads to collaborative learning. The use of blogs in the classroom engages children in learning and using technological literacy that will help them in adulthood.
All said and done blogs are digital platforms that provide students with a medium for sharing knowledge and experiences that go beyond the traditional means of reading and writing in classrooms. It instills in them the power of articulation, reflection and critical analysis and leads to collaborative learning. The use of blogs in the classroom engages children in learning and using technological literacy that will help them in adulthood.
References
1) TAN Yuh Huann, OW Eu Gene John, Jeanne Marie HO Pau Yuen- Weblogs in Education- A literature review-
September 26, 2005 http://edublog.net/mt4/2005/09/weblogs-in-educ.html
2) http://edublogs.org/
3) Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edublog
4) Theresa L Christensen-Technology, Learning and Collaboration
http://theresalchristensen.com/2014/06/20/begin-student-blogging-as-easy-as-1-2-3/
September 26, 2005 http://edublog.net/mt4/2005/09/weblogs-in-educ.html
2) http://edublogs.org/
3) Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edublog
4) Theresa L Christensen-Technology, Learning and Collaboration
http://theresalchristensen.com/2014/06/20/begin-student-blogging-as-easy-as-1-2-3/