My understanding of a "Blog"

My understanding of a Blog is that it is similar to that of a log book, a diary or a journal. A Blog can be used to chronologically keep track of the authors interests, opinions, discoveries and events either in a personal or professional context (Downes, 2004. Servicestelle et al, 2005. Siemans, 2010.)

A Blog can only be edited by the author, but other people can read the blog and post their opinions and comments in regards to what the author has written about. It needs to be stated here, that the author does not have to literally write as such, the author may upload links to other blogs, wikis or websites, or upload video clips or podcasts. All of which are open to other peoples accessibility and opinion (Downes, 2004. Servicestelle et al, 2005. Siemans, 2010.)

Some Blogs are used in a professional capacity in order to exchange information. An example of this is depicted in the Blog of George Siemans (2010). His Blog relays information through professional exchanges of knowledge, contains links to contemporary events, conferences and publications.

With all this in mind the use of Blogs in the classroom could be very beneficial. Imagine if you will a classroom where all the students have access to the Internet at home (I did say imagine). Imagine that each student had their own Blog, and as part of their weekly homework that the Learning Manager assigns them, they have to research a topic, answer questions, add their comments to their blog, and respond to their classmates' research and questions. The topic to be blogged would be in relation to the current classroom learning, such as English, Math or other Key Learning Areas. The Learning Manger could also follow along reading the students' Blogs monitoring their participation and learning, and offer support when needed. The students' parents (remember I said imagine) would have access to what the students are researching or actually learning in the classroom, keeping them informed. Along with the actual topic to be researched, the use of this ITC would involve implementing learning experiences to the students so that they will know of, and know how to make and use a Blog, and also know about good Netiquette practice. Therefore, the skills of using the blog would directly relate to the learning content, curriculum and classroom assignments, while also linking to "a logical and systematic information process model, such as the Big Six" (Berkowitz, et al, 2010. pp. 24.) which will be discussed further along in this blog.

I would say that the only negatives that I can see that using a blog is students forgetting their user names and passwords, and at the beginning a lot of time could be taken up actually teaching them how to use it, ironing out all the glitches if the blog learning is not integrated properly into the actual topic learning. Otherwise this is a very effective digital tool.

References:

Berkowitz. B., Eisenberg. M., & Johnson. D. (2010). Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Skills Curriculum Based on the Big6 Skills Approach to Information Problem-Solving. Accessed July 22, 2010 from http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/file.php/4033/LMC_Big6-ICT_Curriculum_LMC_MayJune2010.pdf

Downes, S. (2004). EDUCAUSE Review: Educational Blogging. Accessed on July 22, 2010 from http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume39/EducationalBlogging/157920

Servicestelle, Z., Lernen, F. & Medien, N. (2005). Weblogs. Accessed on July 22, 2010 from http://www.sbg.ac.at/zfl/eTeaching_Skills/eTeaching_Weblogs/basics.html

Siemans, G. (2010). Elearnspace - Learning, Networks, Knowledge, Technology, Community. Accessed on July 22, 2010 from http://Www.Elearnspace.Org/Blog/