Comparison and TPACK Reflection
The article “Preservice Teachers’ Reflection on Clinical
Experiences: A Comparison of Blog and Final Paper Assignments” discusses the
advantages and differences of blogging and paper assignments. In the article,
it states that reflections can best use to analyzing connections and
relationships from students and teachers, but students and students. Reflection
is important because while in the process of reflecting, there is more
concentration and consideration of the paper. As a teacher, reflection can help
you take what you know about teaching and new things to learn to help your
students with a better ability and understanding. The article states that,
“teachers who have adopted reflective practices will be better equipped to meet
their students’ individual needs.” More focus is being brought to “identifying
the presence of reflective content rather than other types of assignments.” It
is said that blogging is much easier for students and teachers than having
paper assignments in the classroom. Blogging shares their writing with not only
the teacher but the students as well. This helps with immediate feedback and
helpful tips from fellow students and the teacher. Also, submitting through a
blog, the assignment remains visible to the student instead of waiting to see
it after the teacher has graded it. There are four ways to assessing reflection
starting with habitual action. This means that “reproducing material without
showing evidence of understanding it”. The second scheme is understanding,
followed by understanding, reflection, and critical reflection. In the end, we
can say that reflection post to blogs over paper reflections is far more
effective in a classroom. The other article refers to the Technological
Pedagogical Content Knowledge, the framework for teacher knowledge. The
framework of teaching is built off of three things known as technology, context
knowledge, and Pedagogical knowledge. These three domains support each other
for effective and good teaching.
I have personally never been a fan of blogging for the stigma that it has of being for older people but it no longer is. Blogging could be a good alternative for use in the classroom. Students want to be technologically advanced and have everything at their fingertips and a blog is a good option.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good sense of humor to me when you talk about the connection between the blogger and older people....I think I must be old, which make me come up with the blogging idea for all of you!! I enjoy sharing and exchanging my ideas with you on the blogger!!
DeleteRecently, blogs begun to emerge as a useful type of educational technology. The literature discusses a number of interesting possibilities for the use of blogs. For example, it is suggested that students can use blogs to publish their own writings, discuss group assignments, peer review each other’s work, collaborate on projects and manage their digital portfolios.
ReplyDeleteOverall, from my perspective as a teacher, I believe that the blogs added a new dimension to my teaching effectiveness by enabling me to do things that were not possible otherwise, either with or without other technology. Initially, I saw blogging as a means by which I could provide my reflections to address emerging issues relevant to students’ learning. Blog technology allows students as readers of my reflections to post their comments. Blog can also be used as a resource distribution medium. I understood that it is appropriate for students to also maintain their own blogs, where they could reflect upon learning that took place in class sessions, present their work and express ideas and concerns. Once I began reading and reviewing students’ blogs, it became obvious that this activity is time-consuming due to having to follow up all blogs individually and to keep track of new posts and comments soon after they had been added…But, I still love doing it!!
I personally don't know a whole lot about blogging. I'm learning as this class goes on. I do like to read DIY and Food blogs but I don't think as a parent I would keep up with a class blog. I totally agree with, “teachers who have adopted reflective practices will be better equipped to meet their students’ individual needs.” This is something I myself need to work on.
ReplyDeleteWhen viewing blogs vs essays I feel that both can be utilized in the classroom. But I feel this depends greatly on the class. Blogs can work well if students actually give positive feedback. On the other hand with essays many times only the supervising teacher reads them. I think it is important for students to read and help with their counterparts papers or writings. Also I think it will help their own works of writing by reading others pieces.
ReplyDeleteWhen viewing blogs vs essays I feel that both can be utilized in the classroom. But I feel this depends greatly on the class. Blogs can work well if students actually give positive feedback. On the other hand with essays many times only the supervising teacher reads them. I think it is important for students to read and help with their counterparts papers or writings. Also I think it will help their own works of writing by reading others pieces.
ReplyDeleteI feel like when it comes to writing papers for essays on blogger, my mind goes both ways...I don't think it is something that a teacher should only use. yes, it would be a good thing because it helps students get use to using the computer and there will come a time in a students life when they have to write an essay out on the computer. personally, I was taught to write a rough draft and make marks on it to revise my sentences and so it is hard for me to see a good paper on the computer instead of my handwriting. but students may be able to write better if they know that others besides just the teacher and themselves will be reading it.
ReplyDeleteI can see the benefits of both blogging in a classroom and writing papers. I like the idea of blogging because it is a more relaxed form of assessment that may be easier for students with testing anxiety or other testing problems that may come when writing an important paper. Blogging is also more fluid in the sense that other ideas can be thrown around and discussed as where a paper is static in nature, it is what it is. But putting ideas into a paper is also a critical skill for students to have when they reach the college level and begin professional lives.
ReplyDelete