Blog posts or blogs are primarily textual and can vary widely in their content. They can be devoted to politics, news and sharing opinions or dedicated to technical developments. Blog entries are usually maintained in chronological order, but are usually displayed in reverse chronological order. Nardi et al. (2004) identified five reasons why blogs are used:
1. to update others on activities and whereabouts;
2. to express opinions to influence others;
3. to seek others’ opinions and feedback;
4. to “think by writing”;
5. to release emotional tension.
Blogging is increasingly finding a home in education (both in school and university), as not only does the software remove the technical barriers to writing and publishing online - but the 'journal' format encourages students to keep a record of their thinking over time. Blogs also of course facilitate critical feedback, by letting readers add comments - which could be from teachers, peers or a wider audience.
Students use of blogs are far ranging. A single authored blog can be used to provide a personal space online, to pose questions, publish work in progress, and link to and comment on other web sources. However a blog needn't be limited to a single author - it can mix different kinds of voices, including fellow students, teachers and mentors, or subject specialists. Edu-blogging pioneer Will Richardson (author of the main books devoted to Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts) in 2001 used the blog software Manila (http://manila.userland.com) to enable his english literature students to publish a readers guide (http://weblogs.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/bees) to the book The Secret Life of Bees. Richardson asked the book's author, Sue Monk Kidd, if she would participate by answering questions and commenting on what the students truly democratic learning space.
Richardson marked 10 years since his first blog post, a full decade of writing and sharing online. He defines the education reform: “We don’t need better, we need different” (Richardson, 2011)
Today’s students are immersed in the digital age, but can our educational system keep up? Best-selling author Will Richardson's comprehensive collection of posts from his acclaimed blog (http://weblogg-ed.com) outlines the educational reform we must achieve to stay ahead of the curve:
- Project-based learning
- Student-created media that develops critical thinking
- Extending learning beyond the classroom and school hours
- Cooperative and collaborative learning
- Student empowerment and career readiness
The necessary shift will not magically happen, but experts agree that it must happen now. This compilation will inspire educators and parents to engage in the technology their children already embrace, and to take an active role in transforming education to meet the challenges of the digital revolution.
- 1331 reads
