presentation 1 using blogs

Enhancing School English Language Programmes

Blogging: Beyond the Curriculum

A one-year review as conducted atHwa Chong Institution

Using blogs to enable independent learning

Why Blog?

Why Blog?

• ‘23,000 new weblogs are created every day – or about one every three seconds.’

Fortune Magazine 2005

Why Blog?

1 Students (digital natives)student-owned technology motivation to write 2 Offers a wealth of opportunities for students to write purposefully & collaboratively3 Facilitates differentiated instruction (DI) – students & their learning styles

Digital literacy

• ‘refers to the ways people become comfortable using technology as they would any other natural language.’ (Huffaker)

• ‘digital fluency will be another prerequisite for sociability, lifelong learning, and employment opportunities.’ (Resnick, 2002)

Digital literacy

• Weblogs allow for the fusion of educational technology and traditional narrative writing inside the classroom and beyond

Blogging and language acquisition

• Students will be able to improve their writing

• Students are able to engage in critical, creative & reflective thinking

Blogging and independent learning

• ‘It is essential for schools to reduce students’ dependence on schools and teachers for their learning and increase students’ capability to set and meet their own learning goals.’

(Core Curriculum Advisory Committee, 1986, p. 13)

Blogging and independent learning

• Students assume responsibility for creating and maintaining blogs = tasking them with the onus for their learning

• Blogging allows a shift from teacher to student-centered learning

• Students see the need to become ‘lifetime learners’

Integrating blogging into curriculum

Blogging is incorporated into Sec 1 Language Art Programme (LAP) at Hwa Chong Institution:1.Module plan• Resources/Pedagogies• 1 student – 1 blog policy

Integration

‘Complexity that works is built up out of modules that work perfectly, layered one over the other’

(Kevin Kelly)

Layered learning

Blogging

Reading & Writing

Narrative & short story

Situational writing

Literature & philosophy

Comprehenshion & summary

Art & acts of persuasion

Informal

Formal

Integration

Process

1.Pre test2.Journaling vs blogging (similarities &

differences)3.Analysis of newspaper articles of racist

bloggers4.Socratic seminar on the ‘dangers of

blogging’5.Creation of Class Blog Policy6.Creating personal blogs

For students with existing blogs

1 Do you have a blog that you have been posting actively for the last 3 months?2 Why did you start your blog? What do you blog about?3 Is your blog private or public?4 What are some of the challenges that you face while maintaining your blog?

Content

• Student-initiated• Teacher-initiated: blog prompts• Rodger’s blog• Readers for Life• weread.com• Micro Fiction• Wetpaint • E-learning• New arrival book reviews: CCA

Evaluation

Major ACE activity (10 CPs)• 20 blogs• 12 quality comments• Multi-media elements: video & photo-

montage• Monitoring and commenting• Rubric

Total: /10CPs

0/1 CPs

Name of Student: ……………………..( ) Class: …………Termly Blog Review Rubrics Circle one in each box(T1) Circle one in each box(T2) Circle one in each box(T3)

/4CPs/3CPs/3CPsMostly Excellent 3CPsMostly Satisfactory 2 CPsMostly Unsatisfactory 1 CPs

Excellent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Blog is coherent(content & style) and is easy to navigate. Layout is attractive.

Overall#(1CP)

ExcellentSatisfactoryUnsatisfactory



Multi-media activity is thought-provoking and is relevant to the concepts, themes and issues taught. It enhances learning of the creator and his peers.

Multi-Media




The writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Ideas and responses are communicated clearly and coherently.

Writing Standards




Blog posts and commentsshare personal connections to class content or discussion. Connections are also made beyond the classroom.

Making Connections




Critical thinking is evident in each post and comment. There is a sustained attempt to engage in self-reflection.

Quality of posts & comments

ExcellentSatisfactory

Unsatisfactory


Unsatisfactory


Unsatisfactory

There are at least 5 posts in the blog, each at least 200 words.At least 3 comments have been made in classmates’blogs. Each comment is at least 75 words.

Posts &Comments

# This component should be reviewed in Term 3

Advantages1.Promotes editing2.Provides an interactive platform for students

to write and publish their thoughts3.Creates opportunities for students to write

creatively, critically and reflectively4.Actively engaged in tracking and reviewing of

books online via the electronic bookshelf5.Student/teacher relationship…positive6.Feedback from LAP review—please continue

next year

Role of teachers

Initiating

Modeling

Supervising

Overseeing

Teacher

Facilitator

Final observations

1.Instant access to a student’s thoughts, learning styles, learning needs; e-learning comment from teacher NOT blogging

2.Making connections with themes and texts3.Allows students to function as a

writer/audience4. Critical thinking framework – a necessity?• Does IT help students in their LAP?

And the verdict is……

presentation 1 using blogs

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