Finally, I have begun!

I'm a little behind with readings at the moment, and I have taken ages to set up this blog, but I have finally gotten here. I haven't had much experience with using a blog, and keeping track of my own learning (although I am constantly telling students how important it is, so I definately see the benefit!) is still something I am getting used to!

I found the reading :
Hendron, J. G. (2008). RSS for educators. Blogs, newsfeeds, podcasts and wikis in the classroom (pp. 1-16). Oregon, USA:
International Society for Technology in Education.
incredibly enlightening. I wasn't aware that there were so many different parts to online communication. For example podcasts, I've heard the term thrown around, but I would never have been able to tell you that they can be compared to a radio feed. I have already started to think of ways this could be used within the classroom. Students could upload their own reading to a blog for their parents, peers and themselves to listen to and they could track their own improvement as they go. Their peers and parents could offer them constructive feedback on what they do well, and areas they could improve on as part of the comments in regards to the podcasts as well!

I also liked the idea of the school in Goochland County, Virginia. All their teachers were to keep a blog. It opens up the communication between home and school really well, and also provides parents with the security in the knowledge that their children are coming to school and learning what they are meant to be learning. It also keeps teacher accountable for what they are teaching. Yes, we all keep a daily planning diary, but that isnt readily available for parents to view. By teacher keeping a blog, there is less room for parents to say that we are not teaching anything in a school day!

These are just some of my thoughts after reading the reading. I'll add more once I have processed it further!

Thanks
Claire