This article discusses the possibilities and benefits of incorporating blogs and online discussion forums into teaching. The goals of using these tools are outlined as being useful in exposing students to computer-supported communication and collaboration and also as an encouraging tool to promote 'reflective practice and a better understanding of the pedagogical and learning benefits derived from integration in these technologies.' Firstly the challenges which face teachers are described. These include; how to make them realise their role as construtivists 'producers of information and knowledge-and not "just as teachers"-objectivists-who are solely in a transmission role.' It states that teachers need to find their professional voices and a means to be heard and it offers technology as the means to achieve this.
Teachers thus use technology to; 'enhance their productivity and professional practice', 'to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning', 'evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student learning' and apply technology to increase productivity as well as a way to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents and the larger community in order to nurture student learning. For a time journals have been encouraged to help students think about their own learning and that by completing journals their learning would be improved. However a problem exists with this approach to learning as students may often 'bias their writing to what they think the instructor wants to see' so the process can to a certain degree become almost pointless. While Nicholson and Bond (2003) said, "electronic discussion boards can play an integral role in the development of preservice teachers...they benefit preservice teachers in terms of time, scheduling, and geographical issues...provide emotional and intellectual support and fast a sense of community...promote growth of reflective discourse.'
Discussion boards have been around longer then blogs, therefore the use of blogs in education are still being explored and developed. Blogs are used to 'encourage writing, but in a public space,...motivates students to spend more effort in the process...as not just instructor or peers seen it but a wider, unknown audience.' Blogs are also useful as a collaboration tool in the classroom. I think that more teachers need to recognise the use of blogs and discussion forums as Levin and Camp (2002) argued that teachers are unlikely to improve their practice without reflecting on their performance which they can do through the use of such tools as blogs. 'the difference between a "public" voice addressing an unknown audience (the blogs) and a more "private" voice where all participants were known to each other', this point I feel is crucial to how the use of blogs can be so beneficial as the writer of the blogs is now writing to a larger audience which can result in the writer gaining comments from the readers of their blogs, thus they can learn more from what they write in comparison to just writing for a smaller audience which offers less feedback.
An important point about blogs is made which is that blogs can be used by everyone of all levels and not just those who are advanced in using technology. The methods used in this article are similar to our class where by they made a blog, sent the link to the teacher and then respond to questions posed by the teacher as well as commenting on others work. The results were interesting reading. Most of the students recognised it as a medium 'for self-expression, access to information, and community building'. Others admit that they had no idea of its potential prior to using them. Two of the goals behind their use of the blogs were; to write to a wider audience and to recognise oneself as a creator of knowledge or at least acknowledging ones views are worth the consideration of others. Interestingly though only 5 out of the 56 students who underwent the use of the computer based tools said they will use blogs when they teach. Others said they were unaware of what technology would be available at their place of employment while some other students failed to recognise the point of using them.
"Reflective journal writing offers instructors a window into each student's mind and assess the degree to which they are making progress toward desired learning goals in a given course or program of studies". Blogs and discussion forum similar to this and are used in the hope of resulting in better learning. This example was "successful in promoting reflective writing". The fact that blogs can allow the teacher a deeper insight into their students minds is essential to the development of teaching and learning as the students are offered an outlet to express themselves instead of opting towards writing solely for the correcter of their work. I believe it is a good idea for such technology tools to be incorporated in the classroom as students need to be aware of the possibilities and benefits of the technology that is available today. Yet obviously a balance should be the set up within the classroom as such technologies are not to everyones liking and what exists at the moment in most schools, which is like the ones I attended the relationship which exists between a teacher and their students is important as the students need to be aware of how they are progressing on a more intimate level then on the Internet where the encouragement or praise that they receive is from an audience which they ultimately cannot see! While within the classroom they can be encouraged amongst their peers. The incorporation of such tools would be beneficial as they could express themselves openly and then perhaps discuss it in class which will allow a better interactiveness within the classroom and would allow teaching and learning to progress steadily.
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