I would categorize blogs into visual symbols for most of the content. Obviously, in addition to the text (visual symbols) there could also be still pictures or motion pictures posted on a blog which could mean that a blog fits into many categories of Dale's cone. I would argue however, that the categories that blogs fit into are still higher up in the cone as blogs consist of mostly learning through observation or through symbolic experiences and not so much through direct learning.
I think there are lot of creative uses for the blog in the classroom. Are there problems to which blogs are the answer? I'm not completely sure on that one. I could definitely use blogs as a supplement to an already working classroom, but I'm not sure that blogs could transform our teaching unless we were positive that all students had computers with internet access. Blogs may be the answer to "how can I get my students motivated about this assignment?" I think blogs could be used in a variety of ways to integrate technology into the classroom. I could imagine that using blogs as a way to collaborate in groups or even peer edit papers. Students could use blogs in addition to RSS readers to comment in diary format on current events. I would be very interested in learning how to use blogs as a way to transform our teaching and not just integrate it into our lessons.
My experience with RSS readers has been pretty positive though I don't think I'm using them to their fullest extent. I like that all of the feeds are on the same page and that I don't have to really navigate away from that page to find the information. I subscribed to sites like Associated Press and People magazine. Since they sort of culminate what is happening in the media, I don't have to navigate away from their sites much either, so I'm not convinced that the RSS reader is a better option.
I would categorize RSS readers into Dale's cone the same way I categorized blogs. Since most of the content is text with videos or still pictures thrown in, RSS readers can fall into multiple categories including visual symbols, pictures or motion pictures.
I could imagine using RSS readers with all students as a way to talk about current events. RSS readers answer the question, how can I get the news to my students without purchasing a newspaper for each student? In this case, technology IS the answer and lets the students find interesting news.
Danelle,
ReplyDeleteIt seems we have some of the same ideas on where blogs/RSS fit on the Cone. Technology in general could help with student learning but I agree it cannot transform education unless the students have access to these types of tools. However, most public library's do have computers and internet capabilities. Most colleges require students to have laptops so perhaps students should be signed out a laptop to use during the school year. :) Kathy W
Danelle,
ReplyDeleteI am starting to get the feeling that we all are coming up with the same ideas. Using a blog for homework and current events being accessed through the RSS fee. I cannot help but wonder how this is different or more effective than using email or having students read an online version of the newspaper. It seems so far that they are just another way to use technology to accomplish the same task that email has already accomplished.
Jackie Sowle
I definitely agree with you that the RSS reader is pretty convenient in that you don't have to navigate away from site to site. However, now that I have been thinking about it a little more, computers are so fast nowadays, that waiting for a site to load doesn't happen. For the school district that I work in, blogs and RSS readers, and technology in general, is not the answer. If I had to guess, maybe 50% of our students have a computer at home, so for me to require use of a class blog isn't very practical or realistic.
ReplyDeleteDanelle,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great that using the RSS feeder, I don't need to navigate to so many websites anymore, especially the news websites. It makes my life a bit more convenient using the RSS feeder.
After I read your reflection, I realized that Blog and RRS readers allow you to create students-centered learning lessons like collaborating in groups and peer edit papers.
Hi Danelle,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of using blogs for group projects and peer editing. I would like to add a few blog/rss projects this fall.
Mark P
Hello Danelle,
ReplyDeleteIn some of our classes, students need to look up current events, historical facts, or important issues. I think the use of the RSS feeds from your blog could direct students to appropriate sites for students. Also, so students do not wander in the web when doing research. Some other ideas that I learned from our librarian are Web Quests, where you give students questions about the subject and give them several sites (RSS feeds) in order to answer the questions.
Have a great week,
Karen