BLOGS

What I like:

I love this thing called a BLOG. As this is the first time I have used it I am very proud of what I have learnt so far. I love how it is like a diary and I love the fact that other people can read and comment on this on line ramble of my deepest and most intelligent? thoughts. As I love to ramble on and I really love to write, this type of technology really appeals to me. I love the fact that I can embed links...what a wonderful way to keep everything I like in one place! Being able to illustrate it and make it pretty with my own photos is an added bonus and I have so many ideas on what else I would like to add. 

What I don't like: I must admit, I am surprised to say that there is not too much so far that I can find a fault with except perhaps that I can't just move around images easily...but then maybe it is just that I am not too clever yet and have not discovered how to do this. The font is limited too...so far...but again...it could just be that my knowledge is limited.

What I would like to be able to do: I would like to be able to add a video and a PowerPoint. I would also like to be able to put music on here...but think I may be dreaming a little here. I am wondering if I could also link my photo stories on here?? Note to self: this weekend investigate these.

Because I had to use a SAMR to consider how a Blog could be used I had to first find out what a SAMR actually was...so I found an example...see above. Gosh... I LOVE Google search....just ask...what is a .....? ...and it will find it for you!

So...here goes...

Redefinition: The teacher could create a Class Holiday Blog which could be shared with other students and teachers in the school. This Blog would consist of the collection of all the students finished journals.  These students and teachers could ask other questions about the places and activities the students enjoyed which the class as a whole could investigate and answer. Parents could be invited to also comment and add information to the students reports. This could be a way to engage parents in their children's learning journey as they share their actual holiday journeys. The teacher would use this whole process as a way to assess the students writing skills.
Modification: Other students in the class could access their peers Journey Journals and make comments on their daily updates. The teacher could ask specific questions as too could the students. Questions and challenges about the visited places could extend the students knowledge of the places they visit. If a student stays at home and doesn't travel they could "travel" with those who do as they follow these students 'footsteps'. In the classroom, following the holidays, students could give ratings for their peers entries journal entries...i.e...5 stars for the most interesting and informative postings and then students could gather all the 'best' entries from their own Journey Journals and join these entries into a final report on their holiday experiences. This finished journal could be illustrated with their best photos and pictures.
Augmentation: The Journey Journal Blogs could have embedded links to places of interest such as the history of a town visited and images uploaded such as photographs taken on their holiday.
Substitution:  A Blog is a modern on line diary. It is a continual record of thoughts and comments. A place where students could be encouraged to write daily or weekly updates and much more engaging than using pen and paper. In the classroom a blog could be used by students in the holidays to record their experiences as they travel or holiday at home. This Journey Journal could be easily shared in the classroom and would appeal to most students as they engage in the skills needed to produce interesting literacy.