Blog+dialogue

Blogs to follow:

I am a total twitter convert and this guy sums it up. I just wish I'd started a few years earlier to have kick-started my PD. But, hey, better late than never. I like his advice on how to handle the flow - just go with the flow... if you like it, star it.... if you miss it, don't stress coz if it's really that interesting, it'll be retweeted.
 * Our very own head [|dude]:
 * Our [|freelfalling tutor] :)
 * [|Betcha boy rocks on]...


 * It's a torrent out there - grab the [|paddle]

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In the lecture today we were introduced to Sydney teacher Chris Betcher. It was interesting to hear th opinios of an ICT teacher who regularly writes a blog on the advantages of technology in the classroom. During the lecture I felt interested in hearing his views on technology and the most interesting statement he made was viwing technology as a tool for creativity not productivity. I think that wil allows students to release their creative instincts with technology and engage them in the learning process. ======

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I have been thinking more about my own question which I asked Ariane after the tutorial today, about why do people blog? What's its appeal? And following onfrom that question I have been thinking about the possibilities of usingblogging as a learning tool for students. I searched and found this video presented on TeacherTube, called [|'Why Let Students Blog?]' It is not themost excellent one, but it did prompt me to reflect on some of the waysblogging can be useful as a learning tool. For example, as a means to increasecollaboration amongst peers, but also the widerschool or global community;creativity and expression- fundamental all subjects and all students; and also participation,engagement and away to get students involved with a hands on approach. ======

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But theone that stood out to me most was as a means of motivation and ownership. Too often I see students asked to do meaningless tasks, that no one will see orcare about. At most it will be viewed by the teacher and only as a means ofassessing the student's 'learning progress'. It's hard to be motivated tocomplete a task when it feels like it doesn't matter or is a meaningless taskwith no purpose beyond assessment. However, blogging gives students a voice toshare their opinions and ideas, and opens up their ideas and opinionsto a wideraudience than simply the teacher. It extends the walls of the classroom andthereby the experience of advice/comments offered. By using blogging, commentssparked by other other bloggers can motivate students to take their ideasfurther building upon them and challenging their opinions. =====

Ariane's response to Mira's blog post can be found here. Response to Matthew's post can be found here.

Carina's response to Mira's blog posts can be found posted on her blog [|here] and [|here]. Carina's response to Matthew's blog post can be found [|here].

Gaganpreet's response to Mira's blog post is here. Gaganpreet's response to Mira's blog post about PLN is here.

Ariane's responded to another one of Mira's blog posts here.

Carina has responded to Matthew's post about digital technology and Mira's blog post about mobile phone learning technology.

Gagan's response to Matthew's blog post about digital technology.

Gagan's response to Mira's and Ariane's post about mobile phone learning technology.