A blog can be whatever an individual wants it to be, however when society is questioned, what is a blog? The usual responses revolve around a personal diary, a collaborative space and an online journal. Blogs can relate to and be utilised to various aspects in an individual’s life. In particular, blogs are a useful eLearning technology in teaching (primary, secondary and tertiary). They help to engage students and create meaningful learning to result in overall effective learning.
I have personally analysed the effectiveness of the eLearning technology in teaching by performing the following SWOT analysis:
STRENGTHS | WEAKNESSES |
• Enables students to reflect on their learning and show students thinking • Easy to use • Can implement strategies through the tool to create higher order thinking • Includes literacy tasks of writing, reading and comprehension • Students can network and communicate through the tool • Allows for collaboration • A certain amount of permanency, only the author can edit the blog • Allows for students to present and show their own work | • Can only be accessed through the internet • Disengages some students • Students have privacy issues |
OPPORTUNITIES | THREATS |
• Students develop higher order thinking • Students create meaning in their learning • Increases literacy, numeracy and new literacy skills in students • Straightforward features allow for secondary, tertiary and primary school students to use the tool • Builds relationship between the teacher and the students | • Not every student has access to the equipment needed and the internet to blog • Legal & ethical issues • Bullying |
As a teacher of business education and mathematics blogs can be used in various ways. Here are just some of the approaches:
• Student Reflections – Students can reflect on their learning throughout a project, for example the preparation for their small business day where they are required to carry out their own business.
• Extra Resources – I can use the blog to post further questions for upcoming exams or link to other sites that can provide the same for students to complete.
• My Reflections – I can reflect on my own teaching practices.
• File Assignments – Students can post assignments onto their blogs and others can review them to provide them with further insight.
• Informal Journal – Students can release all their feelings and thoughts about their schooling experience, where no blog is limited to a certain teaching area. This can help in many ways including the reduction of stress in the students.
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