Class Blog: Internet Vs. Traditional Learning
This week, I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about a new system that I had never used before. The assignment was simply to create a class blog, in which each student would tackle and cover a different topic that was related to the relationship between teaching and technology. In the blog, each student was to research their topic and supply an annotated bibliography (which is similar to a bibliography in the way that it is a citation, however different in that it allows the student to critique the source) on the sources that were used in the blog posting. Each student was to use a video clip, as well as a scholarly written source, such as an academic journal.
For my topic, I chose the divide between the effectiveness of traditional class learning versus online learning. Surprisingly, I had a bit of trouble finding some material for this assignment, or at least I had some trouble finding some recent material for this assignment. Of all the materials I found, the document that I used in the blog was by far the most interesting, but in truth, the majority of it read as though it were describing just a simple pro/con list and pointing out the grade differential between online and traditional class learning (to which there is barely any); however, when my topic was coupled with a few of the other students, I began noticing a trend in the data that I found: While the grades of students who completed online learning environments was supplied in the data, the completion rates was nowhere to be found in any of the pro-online learning journals. This led me to the conclusion that there was likely a large gap between completion rates, which is something I would like to research in the future if given the chance.
I really enjoyed the assignment as a whole. At first, I was slightly reluctant, but as I dove into the interface of the blog I found it was quite familiar to me. I also really enjoyed hearing and reading the other students’ blog posts, as I actually learned a little bit from each one, from arguments on their topics and insights into their opinions, to just some cool tricks and ideas you could utilize in an online posting environment. I could comfortably state that this project will likely be one of my favorites in all of my classes for the semester.
The impact that this assignment will have is immense. It is just an amazing idea to get students involved in digital media outlets such as blogging, to better equip us as educators and give us a handful of useable experience. The possibilities are seemingly limitless. As a teacher, you could use a blog to help reach students and give them information on the topic, or expand on the topic out of a classroom environment. The blog could be used to help build a database of experiences that the students encounter throughout the learning period, or you could have the students working on the blogs to hand in assignments or group-work assignments. It could just be something as simple as using the blog as a daily journal of classroom activities that the students can access from home and better prepare them for the days and weeks ahead. Now that I have been exposed to blogging, and realize the extent of its ease of use, I cannot imagine how it could be overlooked completely as a viable option for teachers to be able to reach students and get them involved with it in some fashion.
You can go directly to the blog page here
NETS-Teachers Standard
Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
b. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
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