Tech Play 1: Blogs

What is a Blog?

     A blog is a media output in which individuals can share their views, ideas and thoughts about particular topics such as vocations, hobbies, or experiences. I developed this particular definition of what a blog is by exploring various types of blogs ranging from education, to family blogs, as well as blogs that discuss topics from cooking to home design. Each blog had its own twist or signature to it which enables the blogger to make their blog more personal and meaningful to them as well as their audience. From looking at each blog you could get a sense of the type of person you were reading about and how they interpreted the usage of their blog from informational to experiential.

     Blogs are different from glogs, vlogs, discussion boards and typical web pages in that a Blog is centered on the author’s personal experiences and thoughts. Glogs contain picture boards, vlogs contain information using a video platform, discussion boards start with a prompt and various authors center a discussion around that particular topic. I used to think that Blogs were just a different type of webpage but after exploring blogs further I have come to realize that they differ from typical webpages in that they again are centered around personal experience. Typical webpages disseminate specific types of information and may have bogs attached but blogs in their own right, are a type of journal for the author to be reflective on their experiences and give them a platform to share those ideas and thoughts with the world.

                       

Affordances

     As I further explore Blogs and their usage I find myself discovering that they can allow me to have an outlet to share my educational thoughts and ideals with those of the outside world. Blogs afford me the opportunity to connect and network with those who are in the same field as me and collaborate with my peers. Blogging also gives me the chance to reflect on my actions as a teacher and receive feedback from others in the educational or non-educational field to develop a different perspective.

     The affordances of differ from other technologies in that it gives me the opportunity to reflect and connect with my peers. Glogs, vlogs, discussion boards, and typical webpages can give me affordances as well as an educator but through my exploration of blogs I feel that it gives me a different type of media to be reflective in and share my experiences with others.

Blog Usage

     Blogs used in the educational framework can potentially have positive aspects to me as an educator and support the learning of my students. Through the blogs I have viewed I have seen many educators that share their classroom experiences from designing and desecrating their classrooms, sharing tips and tricks as well as reflecting on lessons and activities that they have found to be successful in their classrooms. Blog usage can benefit me in numerous ways concerning content, pedagogy, and technology.

Content

     In correlation with blogs in content this where I feel that blogs can be a great platform to deliver thoughts, ideas, and opinions about specific topics or content. It would be a great outlet to share articles, theories, and laws to where students to reflect and reply with their own thoughts and ideas. In some ways this would give students voice that they feel they might not have or exercise in the classroom setting and well as give them ample to reflect on the information they have received. Under Blooms Taxonomy one might express that students would be utilizing the higher quadrant of the scale by analyzing, evaluating, and creating therefore using the higher critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Pedagogy

I feel that blogs correlate with constructivist learning due to the idea that students as well as myself are using a platform that is generated and used in the real world therefore giving students the opportunity to learn proper usage under teacher facilitation. Throughout my educational experience as a teacher I have reflected and responded to various topics and ideals shared by my colleagues and peers although it has never been done using a blog. Throughout this play set process I see how educator blogs can be better utilized to share ideals and thoughts on pedagogical practices and ideas as well as share and receive feedback from other educator sin the field. Collaboration is key in the educational field therefore blogs can be used to extend and enhance instructional as well as educational standpoints and views.

Technology

Blogs give my students and me the opportunity to share our thoughts and ideas among ourselves as well as present a media type that my students could utilize beyond the walls of our classroom. As our world changes, technology evolves therefore giving students more opportunities and channels to share their thoughts and ideas with other. Through classroom blogs the teacher is able to facilitate and model for students proper blog usage and set a meaningful stage for learning to take place.

Possible Obstacles to Blogging

As many affordances that blogs can give there can also be many obstacles as well such as developing and creating a blog, thinking through and developing the reason for creating and utilizing the blog as well as continuously keeping up with it. I think that is the things I see that most bloggers have difficulty with is keeping up their blogs or regularly responding to feedback or comments, especially those with questions or seeking insight. Aside from the thought process and time needed to successfully blog, they can be beneficial to both the blogger and their audience. As I have stated before blogging is a great opportunity to collaborate with peers and colleagues therefore making it extremely useful and beneficial. If time allows and great thought goes into creating a blog it gives the author and their audience a great platform to share and express ideas and thoughts that have great meaning to them.