It was much more than just how to set up and send some posts to a blog. The most valuable part was to experience the student's role when learning something quite difficult under the pressure of other activities. I lost lots of precious time because I did not follow the excellent manual provided by Seth. The reason is that I usually learn the stuff about computers and other gadgets on my own without a tutor.
- Which language skills have you used when blogging? Reading, writing, sometimes listening.
- Which skills would your learners need to be able to blog successfully? IT skills, language skills.
- What did you like and find interesting about blogging? I am not the kind of person who is keen on sharing my private ideas with the rest of the world. (the reason is not that I am so terribly shy, but I do not think they are so interesting) That is why I thought blogging is nothing for me. I did not read them either. I should be more open-minded next time.
- What did you have difficulty with and what do you think your learners might have difficulty with when blogging? My problem was that I was not motivated enough. I use Moodle with my students and it is a good environment for communication. Anyway, I could suggest my students another form of communication. I might be surprised, they may be experienced bloggers.☺
Hi Stanislava,
ReplyDeletethanks for your hard work last week and for the good contributions you made to help it be a successful week.
I'm really pleased that you found the "manual" helpful. As an experienced self-learner it is sometimes difficult to stop and read stuff bit-by-bit. I'm sure that your learning will stick with you even longer though seeing as you've entered into such detail.
I wonder if you'll find your students are ready to blog, or not. As you say, some of us don't like discussing ourselves and of course, others do.
I guess what I'd say to your point is that blogs certainly have moved on from the personal diaries they used to be. Hopefully now you've seen the "other side" of blogging your students will enjoy rich and rewarding tasks that you'll be able to think up which are not at all "naval gazing" like old-fashioned blogging.
Personally I think that the authentic communication blogs can open up encourage our students to be a lot more involved with their learning than when they are simply writing in a closed environment like a Moodle, where their writing is likely to be read only by their teacher, maybe at best their classmates, too. In theory anyone and everyone can read what you write on a blog, a good reason to write well!
Thanks again for all your contributions.
Seth.
Hi Seth,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging words.
I teach English to a group of future IT experts. I thought they would be interested in blogging, but they prefer Moodle. And to be honest I do not feel like pushing them off this track now. Maybe when this course is over, I will find more time ...
Thank you for all your advice and ispirining ideas,
Stanislava