<div>I've been working with a bunch of pre-service teachers. Mostly GenX and GenY, but not many had personal experience in blogging - most just read someone else's blogs. It was a challenge for some to post content to a shared blog we set up to look at student self-assesment in ICT
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<div>Then I mentioned Facebook.</div>
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<div>There was no need to worry about teaching them about this- they were off and running, as they either use it or they were desperate to learn. The only problem is that while they can add their reflections and ideas, their colleagues need a Facebook account to see them. Oh, and it is probably blocked in schools....
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<div>So, I'm wondering if extending technologies that kids already use is a more effective option. If the technology is intuitive we can make better use of it without having to teach its peculiarities.</div>
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<div>After all, did anyone need to run training courses in using an ATM, or does anyone need to show students how to use a mobile phone? </div>
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<div>Ken.<br><span class="gmail_quote"></span></div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 8/20/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Russell Edwards</b> <<a href="mailto:edwards.russell.t@edumail.vic.gov.au">edwards.russell.t@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>> wrote:</span></div>
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<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"><br><br>On 20/08/2007, at 3:03 PM, Kerrie A Hammond wrote:<br>><br>> I keep hearing a lot about blogging yet have no idea how to use it
<br>> in my classroom. I would be greatful if any list contributors, who<br>> are currently using blogging, could give me some hints on where to<br>> start.<br><br>Hi Kerrie,<br><br>I use blogs in two ways in my Year 9/10 classes
<br><br>1) For each class, I make a "class blog", where each unit of work is<br>listed and full handouts placed for viewing or download<br><br>2) Each student makes their own blog. At the end of each unit of work
<br>(typically 2 weeks long), they write a reflective entry on the work<br>they have done, where possible uploading the actual product or an<br>image/screenshot. This forms part of the VELS ICT for Communicating<br>assessment, and where the product is adequately displayed I will
<br>often do the assessment of that (for the other dimensions) just by<br>looking at their blog. Also, some units of work give them some<br>specific questions, which they answer in a blog entry for assessment<br>in either or both of the other two ICT dimensions. Their blog
<br>entries are also meant to include a "trackback" link to the<br>corresponding entry of the class blog, however I have found that<br>these often inexplicably fail to work (on <a href="http://wordpress.com">wordpress.com
</a> blogs).<br><br>I think this has great potential, but as with everything else, it<br>often founders on the shoals of student disengagement...<br><br>HTH<br><br>Russell<br><br></blockquote></div>