Laura’s Blog

Linda’s post featuring a cartoon about videotapes really does show that technology is continually updating and as teachers we need to stay on top of it. I remember this even used to happen when I went through school. Although not in regard to videotapes.

I have just been looking at Michelle’s blog and she has come across an excellent website that allows you to make your own newspaper clippling. Making it a great medium for children to publish their work in. See the newspaper article that I created below.

I have just found an excellent article which has various links to different helpful wequest websites. The article is:

 Mackay. P. (2003). Building and using Webquests. Technology & Learning. (32).

 The article has 12 useful links to websites about webquests. Mackay also briefly describes each of the websites. Making his article highly helpful to anyone looking for information on webquests, but not knowing where to start.

I have just come across a very useful webpage to use when learning about webquests and even creating them or finding existing webquests. It is called webquest.org as the title of my article suggests. This webpage will definately be something that I will keep coming back to throughout my teaching career with using webquests.

I have just watched a short little video from youtube.com of a teacher using webquests. This is a short little video briefy is much like a succes story and says a few reasons as to why to use webquests. Not as insightful as a full research article, but still worth a look.

The following statements from Lacina (2007) basically define what a webquest is:

• “webquests are inquiry-based technology activities”
• “most, if not all, of the information used by learners is drwan from the web”
• “Their design is based on the constructivist philosophy”
• “cooperative learning and scaffolding of instruction are two of its essential components”
• “resource links typically are included within the webquest”
• “The teacher serves as facilitator, or guide”

The article also suggests some benefits for using webquests (Lacina, 2007):

• “emphasise higher level Bloom’s Taxonomy tasks, such as focusing on using information at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation”
• “Webquests allow students to work cooperatively to learn and exchange new information, while using technology – which provides the muliple forms of information needed to understand a new topic”

Ref. Lacina, J. (2007). Technology in the classroom: Inquiry- based learning and technology: Designing and exploring Webquests. Childhood Education, 83 (4), p.251.

The article by Downes (2004) goes through the development of weblogs which is really interesting. However, in terms of its educational relevance, the article goes through how weblogs can be used in the classroom and the benefits of using weblogs for education. Some suggestions for weblogs educational use are:

• Used as a way to communicate with parents
• Used as a personal journal a s a way for reflection
• A way to interact with students on e.g. class times, assignments, rules etc.
• A way to create a community of learners which can share ideas about topics etc.
• A way for all students to voice their opinion in a non-threatening way.

Ref. Downes, S. (2004). Educational Blogging. EDUCAUSE Review. 39 (5), pp.14-26.

I have just read Linda’s post which features of a video from youtube.com of a child playing a game on the computer using an optical mouse that was only purchased the day before. It is quite amazing what these kids are capable of and I am sure that when we start teaching we will come across many kids like this. I am guessing that many of the kids will probably know more than we do…thats a scary thought.

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.