Since our B.Ed 4 students were in B.Ed 1 (such a long technological time ago), there have been many, significant changes to technology, in particular the development and growth of Web 2.0.
As part of the Contemporary Issues module, we will be exploring some of these new developments and considering their usefulness in teaching and learning, and in particular, how they could contribute to the four capacities in the CfE.
This blog will be used to communicate our ideas and thoughts over the coming sessions.
This will be a community blog to which the B.Ed 4 students can contribute just as you would do with a class of children.
However, can I encourage you to set up your own blog? This will give you the opportunity to explore more fully the features of a blog. Visit Andrew Brown’s tutorial to help you get started.
WOOHOO first comment!
By: Rachel on March 20, 2008
at 2:45 pm
I notice, from the above picture for the “Craigie Crayons”, that “we” have been most careful not to advertise any particular make of crayon. Hey -there might have been money in it and what better form of endorsement than from a teacher training institute!
By: Karen on March 20, 2008
at 4:17 pm
Well done to the first comments!!
Good observation about the crayons
but don’t get too excited about the money.
This is a vocation and all these wonderful things we do is for the love of education.
Now – what are your thoughts on using a blog with a class?
By: Morag on March 21, 2008
at 9:54 pm
Have you looked at the photos on Derek’s page? It’s had to believe that we were ‘learning’ through using computer games. Personally i love the idea of using games in the classroom, as long as it can be used alongside traditional teaching and learning. I like the idea of using the game as a backdrop for other learning, e.g. the guitar shop idea. Not sure how confident i am on using blogs in the classroom yet, perhaps as a type of learning log for the children to use or something where they are in control of it more than me. It does seem a great idea in theory and i would be happy to learn more about it.
By: ashleymcleod1985 on March 25, 2008
at 7:43 pm
I think blogs could have a place in the classroom. Children could use them as a means of recording information about a particular topic they are learning about. It also means that when a child finds out additional information about that topic outwith school, they can add it to the blog to share with the other children in the class. I think it lends itself to indepent learning. Like Ashley, I would like to learn more about it!
By: holli86 on March 26, 2008
at 1:01 pm
I have noticed when trying to add friends that you can easily add the wrong person. Can you limit this for children in the classroom so that only others in the class can view their page?
By: toni30986 on March 26, 2008
at 8:24 pm
As a task, explore the feature and functions in the dashboard of your own Blog site to see how it is possible to make the site very secure.
By: craigiecrayons on March 27, 2008
at 9:21 am
Hi all.
I actually believe that the use of blogs in the classroom could be a great way for self and peer assessment for the children. Of course along with more traditional methods!
It would be interesting for the children to maintain a blog as individuals, where they could reflect upon their progress in a topic (as holli mentions) and also for other areas of the curriculum that the children would feel comfortable sharing such information.
A whole class blog could also be kept, similar to cragiecrayons, where the children could inform the rest of the school and parents of what they have been doing in class.
Anyway, just a few thoughts.
By: niknaks on April 1, 2008
at 3:37 pm
Using a blog in the classroom is a fanastic idea and would be good to use for a topic, they could add any information they find to the blog etc and they all learn
By: Rachel on April 1, 2008
at 7:42 pm
Is it possible to limit who is able to read the childrens blogs? and also is it possible to control the comments being left on the blogs?
By: jo85 on April 1, 2008
at 10:42 pm
As the owner of this blog, no comments can be posted without my say so. I receive an e-mail with a copy of the comment which gives me the opportunity to say whether it should be approved or not. I can also mark it as spam which means that any ‘comments’ coming from that source in the future will be ’spammed’ so won’t get through.
I have also tasked you to have a look at the privacy options in your own blogs – play about with settings and then get friends to look at it. This is a good way of learning about these options.
By: craigiecrayons on April 2, 2008
at 8:24 am
I have really enjoyed the inputs we’ve had so far, from Derek and from Morag on the use of computer games and blogs in the classroom. I have to say it is an area that I feel a wee bit out of my depth in – but I am willing to learn more and try it out in the classroom.
I think the Nintendo DS was fab! I could see me introducing the brain training as Mental Maths
starters!
I would second Ashley’s comment in that I these are all great tools for teaching as long as used alongside traditional methods of teaching too.
By: woo2284 on April 2, 2008
at 10:20 am
I really enjoyed the input from Derek about using computer games in the classroom. It seems to have worked extremelty well in a number of schools and I would be keen to give it try but feel I would need more support and advice.
By: emmamcclure86 on April 2, 2008
at 1:01 pm
I think blogs could be a very useful resource in the classroom, however personally I am not very confident at using them at the moment so I think this will be an invaluable resource to me and look forward to learning how to use it effectively.
By: graememccafferty on April 2, 2008
at 1:04 pm
I think blogs are a great idea as long as there is some moderation from the class teacher. Children seem to be very IT literarte these days and so I think it’s important that these skills aren’t wasted or ignored. There was a bit about children and the use of social networking sites on the BBC lunch time news today. Here’s a link to the online article.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7325019.stm
By: jpmcquillan on April 2, 2008
at 2:27 pm
Hi folks!!! not sure about this blogging thing yet! still getting used to it. xx
By: hilzo on April 2, 2008
at 4:26 pm
I have to admit that i am worried about not keeping up with the rapid changes in ICT. James you’re right in saying that children are whizz kids on the computer now, and if this is a particular interest of theirs then it’s vital that teachers tune into this and use it to support lessons.
By: juicylucy1983 on April 2, 2008
at 4:31 pm
I agree and think this could be a good tool for the classroom. I also think it is something that other teachers/HT/parents could use to track the work the children are doing and use it as an alternative way to interact with them. I like the idea of a school blog that someone takes responsibility for and messages could be put on it. One child in each class could be responsible for checking it daily (obviously it would be rotated) and pass the info on to their class.
By: jillc1 on April 2, 2008
at 6:58 pm
The idea of using computer games in the classroom is great as it will really capture the imagination of the children. The only problem is that I can’t see Head Teachers and local authorities spending the money needed to take part in projects properly and keep software up to date, when the buildings that the pupil’s are working in are not even up to scratch. Sorry to be a pessimist!!
By: rossl1 on April 2, 2008
at 7:14 pm
I seem to be able to approve and unapprove comments on this blog….can everyone do this?? I’m really unsure about using blogs, but it is good that i’m getting some experience of them before going into schools!
By: teachertobe on April 2, 2008
at 7:48 pm
Have to agree – that would be a concern of mine too Jillian although it is reasurring to know that these these particular postings are being monitored for approval. Nice picture by the way. On the subject of pictures is it possible to “air brush” and “soft focus” your picture before final publishing!
By: tibetangirl on April 2, 2008
at 9:57 pm
I love Rachel’s comment!
By: scottmcm on April 2, 2008
at 11:18 pm
In all seriousness though, I’m warming to the idea of using blogs in the classroom now that I can actually work them a bit.
By: scottmcm on April 3, 2008
at 12:03 am
Hi folks, very new to this blogging but I am willing to have a go!! I certainly feel that this could be a useful resource within the classsroom if the ICT resources within the school are in working order!
By: audrey38 on April 3, 2008
at 9:51 am
Hi there! i think blogging in schools is a good idea but would need to be monitored!
i think i could get used to this after a while!
By: deckstargill on April 3, 2008
at 9:54 am
Hi! I have really enjoyed the inputs we have had in ICT and feel they will be beneficial to me in the future….
I really enjoyed Dereks input and think the idea of using something children are interesting in as a teaching tool is a great idea!!!! Only problem I have is I do not have a great knowledge or personal interest in these technologies But Hey Im willing to give it a go!!!!
By: misspunto on April 3, 2008
at 10:40 am
I agree with deckstargill that blogs could be a good resource in the classroom but must be monitored to prevent “cyber bullying” etc.
By: hecallsmemolly on April 3, 2008
at 10:41 am
I think that it is a good idea to introduce blogging and other new technologies to children, as if teacher’s responsibility is to equip children with skills for life, then these inevitably constitute this. I do however feel problems could arise with the ever changing nature of this subject, as the formulation of guidelines (such as what is appropriate for each stage) will also need to be ever changing in nature. Does anyone else feel this could be an issue?
By: jacdunn on April 3, 2008
at 10:42 am
Hey, I think it is great but will filter through schools slowly! I think it might be the teachers just graduating that will use it more.
By: maz1784 on April 3, 2008
at 10:44 am
I think this is a really good idea and I look forward to using it.
By: kaz86 on April 3, 2008
at 1:53 pm
I think blogging is a good idea. However i do agree with maz1784 that it will be teachers just graduating that will use.
By: ruthcampbell on April 3, 2008
at 1:54 pm
I feel it is very difficult to use and would need hours to work with the site in order to understand how to use it. This is worrying as i do not have that amount of time.
By: amcanish on April 3, 2008
at 1:54 pm
Perhaps one of the best ways to learn is to set up your own blog over the summer and share it with a few friends. Just play around with it investigating what you can do with it.
By: craigiecrayons on April 23, 2008
at 7:55 pm