Laura’s Blog

I have just read Scott’s post on the three X’s - ’eXploring, eXpressing and eXchanging ideas  and the possibilities for students to use computer technology to capatilise on their natural instincts and passions for learning and discovering. He makes some really good suggestions on what students can do using computer technologies. The articles that I have previously read on webquests (Wood, 2005) and using weblogs (Du & Wagner, 2007) also suggest ways in which to use these two things as educational tools.

I have just read an article by:

 Du, H. S. & Wagner, C. (2007). Learning with weblogs: Enhancing coginitive and social knowledge construction. IEEE Transactions on professional communication. 50 (1), pp.1-16.

This article was really interesting because it mainly talks about using weblogs in the form of a learning log. Much like we are using it at the the moment. The article offers benefits for using weblogs in this manner, namely the fact that it allows the user to “reflect and publish their thoughts and understanding” (Du & Wagner, 2007, p.4) and thus to “actively construct meaning” (Du & Wagner, 2007, p.4). As well as this Du & Wagner (2007) comment that “weblogs’ linking, replying, storing, and tracking features enable the users to better exchange knowledge and information, and hence, collectively construct meaning” (p.2).

 Therefore, this article was really interesting because it discussed the benefits of using weblogs in the way that we are using them. However, through reading this article I have also been able to gain ideas for using weblogs in the primary classroom. As what the article also mentions is that “individuls and groups can communicate in a way that is simple and easier to follow than emails or discussion forums” (Du & Wagner, 2007, p.2). Therefore, this presents exciting opportunities for primary school children to easily link and share their ideas with other students around the world through the medium of a class blog or their own individual blog.