Thursday, September 13, 2007
Enhancing Online Learning
The increasing popularity of computer and internet use has brought about the development of online classrooms as a teaching aid as well as in some instances, the sole teaching tool. A blog has become an essential tool used in online learning and education. There are a number of uses for a blog that will enhance an online experience for the learner. Since a blog is a published composition of writings, known as posts, it can give a student a sense of pride and ownership for their work. When they take pride in their work it will generally motivate them to put an extra effort into their subsequent assignments. In addition, I feel that the use of blogs allows children and adults alike the opportunity to perfect their reading and writing skills. A blog also permits the teacher to maintain communication with a class and their parents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is possible as you may access a blog from any internet ready computer. The use of a blog enables teachers to update parents and students on assignments, exams, school notices and any changes to regular classroom expectations. It is a valuable tool for use with long term assignments. Teachers are able to post guidelines and break down the assignments for parents to ensure their child’s success. Communication outside of the schoolhouse allows students and parents to discuss topics and ask questions away from the regular classroom setting. This may encourage an environment that is more inviting for students who are not comfortable providing input or asking questions in regular classroom discussions. These attributes are some of the potentially many uses of a blog in enhancing online learning and education.
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3 comments:
I agree Lauren’s point about enhancing online learning. She thinks online learning is a revolution of people’s education. There are not tangible classroom and people any more and every learning processes are performed by internet tools like blog. For learners, they do not only have one instructor for a course; they can get lots help though the blog postings. As well as, an instructor does not need to care about the capability of a traditional classroom. People may to read material, to learn new skill, and to give the response any place and any time they want.
I agree with you, Lauren! You mentioned that blogs can provide a room for student to ask questions which they may not able to do so during the class time. This is always happening on me, I can hardly ask the questions in class, because I afraid that I would ask some stupid questions in front of the class and I will waste the class time. In that case, if I can use the blog to communicate with the teacher, I will be more willing to ask questions and in that way, I may have a better performance on my assignments and learning! If, fortunately, my questions are exactly what others would like to know about, then everyone can share the answers on the blog, so the teacher do not have to response to individual students through email ( it seems to be a good thing to the teacher as well)
Lauren,
I really enjoyed your comments on incorporating blogs to enhance online learning experiences. I was also inspired by your commitment to teaching and the passion that you possess. I completely agree that blogs and other forms of online media sources, allow students to learn in a whole new way that was not available in years past. For me, the most important aspect is allowing the students and parents the opportunity to access information 24 hours a day. It extends the learning into the home and allows students to contribute to the class in a meaningful way.
As a physical education teacher myself, I continuously deal with lack of participation from shy students. Online learning provides them with an opportunity to contribute in a more comfortable setting. It also provides the teacher with a communication link from the classroom to the home. Online learning can also stem forms of peer learning that may be harder to establish in a traditional classroom setting with these shy students.
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