Blogs

Blogs are among the first of the Web2.0 tools that appeared. In the past the main personal use for teachers seemed to as professional Journals. Teaching in the Digital Age. - Louise Starkey is indicative of this use.  (Note that   this Blog seems to abruptly end around 2008). Which raises some interesting questions. A current example may be Kevin's Meandering Mind. Life is not a race - Allanah King  has as a  purpose which appears to be slightly different. It is more an information sharing thrust.  Derek's Blog; Derek Wenmoth  moves more towards the, convincing the audience.  Scott Huette (2006) suggested an extensive list of uses of blogs in the classroom

Drawing on that list there was some evidence of teachers using blogs to;

•  post class-related information such as calendars, events, homework assignments and other pertinent class information.
• communicate with parents.
• provide examples of classwork, vocabulary activities, or grammar games.
• gather and organize Internet resources for a specific course.
• invite student comments or postings on issues in order to give them a writing voice.
• publish examples of good student writing done in class.
• show case student art, poetry, and creative stories.
• post tasks to carry out project-based learning tasks with students.
• build a class newsletter, using student-written articles and photos.

There appeared to be little use being made of activities that involved student

• reactions to thought-provoking questions.
• reactions to posted photos or videos.
•  journal entries.
•  results of surveys carried out as part of a class unit.
•  ideas and opinions about topics discussed in class.

There is even less evidence of students

• using blogs to create communities of learning (collaboration).

It also needs to be noted that while there are between 10 million and 30 million blogs (an interesting statistic in its self) there would appear to be little daily use in New Zealand schools. There is of course always the possibility that school / student blogs are private groupings and considering the safety issues this is as it should be. Leaving the issue of visibility aside for the moment. The conclusions arrived at after investigating whats out there, are;

• that there would appear to be little integration of blogs as a learning tool in New Zealand schools
• that would appear that secondary schools are using blogs less than primary schools
• that the dominate paradigm within the institution appears to be reflected in that use.

I would welcome correction on the posited conclusions especially if accompanied by some examples. I would suggest that this is not just a local issue