Week Three - The Case of the Online Space

This week we looked at the Group One Tools which were Online Spaces. These included Blogs, Wikis and Websites. I believe each of these has a place in the classroom however the correct use of these tools needs to be modelled and demonstrated by the teacher.

Blog

A blog is an online space that is normally created and maintained by an individual. They are often informal pieces of writing, for personal and/or public use. Blogs can the shape of diaries, logbooks, news reports, informative segments and creative spaces. “A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic” - Wikipedia 

Blogs can be a useful tool in the classroom to enhance, support and transform learning. A blog could specifically be used as a logbook to document and reflect students’ research findings and learning on a topic, as a journal to record thoughts and feelings and even as a space to be creative and express themselves. A blog can be utilised to contribute to learning throughout the term or as an assessment piece to be graded. A blog can also receive feedback through the use of comments. Peers and teachers can use this tool to give constructive criticism on contents of blog.  

I can see myself incorporating blogs into my teaching content as I find they have a lot to offer students. In my specialised areas of Dance and Drama, a blog could be exercised in many ways

-          As a logbook to document learning on actor research

-          As a diary to record muscle and flexibility development over time

-          As a creative space to express individuality

-          As a journal to note down learning experiences from different mentors

Strengths	Weaknesses
Effective use of technology in learning context Creative way to express self Can be used as ongoing learning and/or assessment task Can receive feedback Teachers can monitor progress Can is taken outside the classroom boundaries	Can be used as a distraction device Can only be accessed by creator If wanting to contribute, can only do so by commenting Posts are easy to accidentally delete Posts cannot be recovered easily or even at all
Opportunities	Threats
Enhances, supports and transforms learning Get ideas/beliefs/messages across globally Can be followed by like-minded people Establish good network	Anyone can view blog as public online space Copyright can become an issue with publishing others’ videos/images and sounds If Internet crashes, work cannot be accessed

 Wiki

A wiki is an online space where information can be altered, added to and removed by the user and guests to the page. It is often utilised to encourage collaboration and to consider a range of perspectives on a particular topic. A wiki is scaffolded learning that is employed to present students’ ideas, thinking and reasoning in a visual manner as well as providing a collective forum for discussion. This teaching strategy is known as Constructivism, where learners develop their own understandings through social interaction.  

I would utilise the use of wikis in my classroom to promote teamwork and encourage interaction, whilst teaching the importance of opinions, and learning how to support them. I would use a wiki in a situation where students are required to contribute their ideas freely on a specific topic. An example of using a wiki in context with student learning would be structuring a wiki to help decide on a play to perform at the end of the term. The teacher facilitates the learning by structuring the wiki with scaffolded questions to assist students to contribute their ideas, reasoning and evidence on why their preferred play should be chosen.

As a wiki can be modified by anyone, there is a need for universal rules and etiquette in the classroom. Although content can be removed easily and recovered easily, it is an inconvenience to the teacher and class and wastes valuable time in class. 

The Internet is an open environment that can be accessed by anyone so online class collaboration should be confined to school Internet bases where possible. To demonstrate the correct use of a wiki in the classroom, a clear understanding needs to be established and explicit modelling of correct procedures needs to be provided by the teacher.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Collaboration tool Simple to use Content can be easily retrieved Multi-author page Not chronological Easily edited Can be anonymous Teacher can observe student input/interaction Draws out ideas	Content can be deleted easily Not chronological Cannot be edited by more than one person at a time Can be anonymous May not be able to follow content clearly
Opportunities	Threats
Teamwork Develop skills in online spaces Teach correct use of online spaces Build online etiquette Enables guest interaction Creates permanent, text-based record of discussions and conversations for future reference	Anyone can access Content can be deleted easily If utilised incorrectly, can become pointless Bullying can occur anonymously Content can become off topic

Click this link to visit an earlier post on my thoughts and participation on the Mobile Phone Wiki.

Click this link to visit a Wiki that I have created. 

Website

A website is the third strand examined in Multimedia forms. It can contain text, still images, digital videos and audio files. These can either be presented as a hyperlink to another webpage or can be embedded into the page so it can be viewed there and then. A website is an open space where creativity can flow and the creator can express themselves whether it is informative, artistic, legislative or commercial. 

The creator needs to be vigilant however, as copyright laws do apply. Text, still images, digital videos and audio files need to be obtained properly (given permission) or referenced correctly to avoid plagiarism and to recognise original author. The creator also needs to be cautious when uploading photos of children and should undertake the correct procedure of written permission from parent/guardian. 

EXAMPLES OF WEBSITE PURPOSE

• To establish an internet presence
• As an extension of our current advertising (phone, newspapers, etc.)
• To enhance our company’s professional image
• To offer company information and give the public a favorable impression
• To educate customers and potential customers
• To provide better customer service
• To increase public awareness of our company’s name, brand or identity
• To strengthen our position in the marketplace
• To strengthen brand identification
• To develop a list of qualified prospects
• To gain an increase in sales
• To sell products directly over the Internet taking credit cards and checks (e-commerce)
• To make product or service information available to current customers
• To make product or service information available to distributors
• To serve the needs of current and future clients
• To explain our products and services
• To encourage potential customers to contact us by phone, mail or e-mail
• To consummate a sale
• To bring in new clients or customers to our location
• To compete in the global marketplace
• To offer links to other relevant sites
• To simply establish an Internet presence
• To provide information and customer service
• To offer a virtual community, a place where users can interact with each other

Web Mistress. (2010). What is the purpose of a website. Retrieved from

http://7designavenue.com/2010/03/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-website/

Strengths	Weaknesses
Facilitates learning Encourages creativity Effective use of technology in learning context Teachers can monitor progress Can is taken outside the classroom boundaries	Copyright laws apply Cannot receive feedback firsthand Can be used as a distraction device Can only be accessed and edited by creator
Opportunities	Threats
Enhances, supports and transforms learning Get ideas/beliefs/messages across globally	Anyone can view site as public online space Copyright can become an issue with publishing others’ videos/images and sounds If Internet crashes, work cannot be accessed