Like cultural practices, blogs are impacting teaching and learning with
their socio-technical nature. Internationally, blogs have received much public
attention, boasting more than five million bloggers. A blog is simply an online
journal that eases the process of publishing on the web and allows for virtual
interaction. Technology constructivists argue that such technological
developments, like blogs, and their impact are intrinsically social,
encouraging collaborative learning among users.
Blogs are educational technologies that align well with the social
constructivist perspective of learning, which maintains that culture and
context are critical in knowledge construction and understanding. Blogs, as
learning spaces, support the view that reality depends on socialization with
others; meanings are created through interactions; and learning is a highly
social and active process.
The potentials of blogs in education are endless
These include, but are not limited to, the following:
·
Although blogs are considered new forms of educational technology, the
concept of educational journals is not that new. Blogs merely replace
traditional diaries and journals, which have been very successful in the
instructional process.
·
A blog promotes the social practice of collaboration.
·
Blogs allow participants to share work with others beyond their classroom.
Hence, interactions become more open.
·
These educational technology tools provide opportunities for students to extend
learning beyond the walls of the classroom and to widen their social networks.
·
Through authentic activities, students become creators of information and
are answerable to a larger audience.
·
Blogging is not restricted by time. Bloggers can participate any time of
the day.
As a lecturer in instructional technology, I find blogs very useful in the
training of pre-service teachers. For example, I use blogs to communicate with
student-teachers during the practicum. Here, student-teachers get to share their
experiences from the many different schools in which they are placed. They also
share useful resources such as lesson plans and instructional media. This
allows supervisors and other practicing teachers to comment. It creates a
learning community for the pre-service teachers at a time that can be very
challenging for them. Individuals learn from both their mistakes and the
mistakes of others.
Despite the many potential benefits of blogs in education, there are many
challenges in implementing and using them. The following is critical for the
success of blogs in teaching and learning:
Their implementation is best approached gradually. That is, a step-by-step
manner, where everyone buys into the culture of public journals as opposed to
their previous private relations to teachers and peers.
·
Prior to the use of blogs in teaching and learning, everyone must be
properly introduced to the technology first.
·
Teachers’ role will change from that of a ‘sage on the stage’ to a ‘guide
on the side’. Teachers cannot approach blogs as hoarders of knowledge but as
facilitators of knowledge construction
·
Access to the required technology must be properly explored to ensure that
everyone benefits equally.
·
The objectives and expectations of the blog must also be made clear to the
students from early.
·
Feedback is critical in these online journals. With little or no follow-up
the blog will die. Students must be encouraged to participate.
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