Bloggy Bloggerson Week 4 readings

One of the things that I find most interesting about blogging within the classroom is that it really challenges students to be clear and concise in their postings. As Pericles (2008) indicates the experiences in her classroom allow for the students to receive feedback about information that they've shared and where there is misunderstandings about their postings students are required to think critically about what they're posting online. Bringing technology into the classroom and aiming to apply it across all KLA's will be challenging for teachers but also very effective as it takes students learning within the classroom and makes it relevant to their outside experiences.

I really liked that this particular class was engaging in blog correspondence with students from around the world. This will allow students to incorporate a broader global perspective. Learning about other cultures from a text book is not nearly as effective and authentic as learning about it from young people living in that culture and sharing ideas.

After reading Barone and Wright (2008) there were a few key things I took away. Firstly, I was inspired by Todd's enthusiasm and dedication to embedding technology into the school and further still, effective one-to-one laptop use into his classroom. It is so important to bring new literacies into the classroom as not all students will have access at home (Leu et al., 2005, cited in Barone & Wright, 2008).

I did question Wright's choice to allow students to stay in at recess time to use the internet for non-instructional activities as I am a firm believer in fresh air and exercise! Be careful about allowing this in your classroom....I won't be in mine. 

Lastly I found the results of the schools CRT results interesting and encouraging for any teachers or educators out there that are skeptical about this much ICT use within the classroom. Although the results didn't show how digital and media literacies may have improved literacy knowledge it definitely demonstrated that they did not do poorly because of the high level of new literacies in their classrooms (Barone & Wright, 2008). 

Pericles, K. (2008). Happily blogging @ Belmore South. SCAN, 27(2), 4-6http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/

Barone, D., & Wright, T. E. (2008). Literacy instruction with digital and media technologies. The Reading Teacher, 62(4), 292-302