My Blogging…
Ownership of Learning … and Teaching!
Other weblogs such as our Tudor Exploration weblog are set up as news-sites and students can post their own stories and interesting links to material they have found during their own research. This has proved genuinely helpful to me as the teacher. Not only does it provide my student with a sense of ownership of a topic, but points me to some excellent source material that I can use in subsequent sessions.
Children are always ready to push the boundaries of ICT, and because no software actually resides on a weblogger’s own computer, students are afforded the luxury of being able to explore and experiment with the many features of weblogs without fear of somehow breaking the computer. One student, Michael, learnt how to insert movie theme music into his weblog. The excitement was great. Children were clambering to find out how to do it. Soon some of the students realized that their site did not require music while others searched the web for other more soothing pieces. Someone suggested using our own music recordings. Music Technology had been born in the minds of the class. They were making real choices about whether or not to use technology with a real audience in mind. Michael then had his arm twisted by another student, who was completing her weblog project on Frederic Chopin, to share the skill. Her project was enhanced for both herself and her audience.
This process of students teaching students is commonplace in the weblogging environment. When a child discovers a new blogging skill, inserting a background or creating an online survey, then there are always peers who want to share and apply those skills themselves. I have seen this process in action dozens of times. It also extends to adults as well. When a colleague came to me with a request to insert music into her weblog then I immediately called on Michael, the acknowledged expert in that area. I don’t personally have that skill at my fingertips. I don’t need music on my weblog. I could learn it if I was inclined to but I am confident of sending Michael because I’ve seen it clearly in action on his own weblog.
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