Use of Web Logs to support students on workbased learning

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Use of Web Logs to support students on work-based
learning

• Helen Boulton helen.boulton_at_ntu.ac.uk
• SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

10th Annual Learning and Teaching ConferenceISSN
1758-6143
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Overview

• Background and context
• Choosing the blogging tool
• Using the blog to support students on placement
• What next

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So what's a blog then...?

• A blog is a user-generated website where entries
  are made in journal style and usually displayed
  in a reverse chronological order.
• Pros
• Can upload text, images, videos, sound
• Blog spaces are usually customisable
• Individualised
• Bookmarkable
• Notification of new entries
• Free
• Cons
• External to NTU tool within new VLE
• Can be used for advertising eg LiveJournal
• Not a known environment
• Students have to register but this is free
• Someone needs to set up the Community blog

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Why?- Application of Blogs

• Peer support work based placements
• Higher order learning
• Constructivist learning
• Collaborative work
• Students enjoy it
• Student engagement

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Background and Context

• PGCE Secondary
• Year 1 of research
• Using the community blog in first placement
• Research between placements
• Developments of community blog in second
  placement
• Year 2 of research
• Use prior to starting course very well-received
  by students
• Use as self-reflective learning tool links to
  assignment
• Greater use of sharing critical incident for
  assignment
• Pilot for new VLE

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Examples

• Community Blog year 1
• Community Blog year 2

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How to use the Blog

• Students need to register
• Give you access as a friend
• For Community blog you need to manage
  initially and give permissions
• Welcome message
• Rules
• Encourage personalising area
• Encourage use of emoticons
• Encourage use of photo

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Success

• Much improved as research has developed photos
  being used and customisation of site
• Pre-course blog helped with induction and
  social element of course
• Peer support on placement
• Sharing of resources, experiences, assignment
  preparation
• Coherence sense of community only works if
  students engage
• Seems to link to lower withdrawals from course -
  example
• Comments from students
• Fantastic
• Very supportive on placement
• Dont forget to post

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Work in Progress Futures

• On-going research
• Working collaboratively with colleague at
  Sheffield Hallam University focus on using blog
  to develop self-reflective practice
• Iterative to inform practice for next year
• To disseminate to other PGCEs and programmes
• Staff development
• VLE pilot

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Any Questions?
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• Hi, ive not blogged because to be honest im
  thinking about leaving.I dont think i passed
  the assignment, im too scared to apply to any
  jobs, each lesson seems to be getting worse and
  worse.i dont enjoy teaching at this school
  because no matter how hard you work the students
  dont seem to care. there very lazy. i can make
  the most interactive lesson possible but the kids
  would sooner play on PC games, They are moody and
  to be honest ive just had enough. im really
  trying dont get me wrong, the school is not aware
  that i feel this way.Ive wanted to be a teacher
  since i was at school myself, i feel like ive
  fallen too far behind to hold this together.
  Sorry all just felt like telling you