Fostering an Online Learning Environment to Develop Literacy Skills

Fostering an Online Learning Environment to Develop

Literacy Skills

Julie LindsayHead of Technology

International School Dhaka, Bangladesh

Modern Learning Pedagogy

Use of the WWW for teaching and learning Fostering a sense of community between

isolated learners Use of asynchronous learning network

Anytime, anywhere learning Complements traditional face-to-face teaching and

learning

Encouraging responsible and independent participation in the learning process: constructivist approach

Online Tools for Promoting Information Literacy and Communication

Foster learner engagement and include techniques for learner-learner and learner-teacher interaction

Deliver content (information), provide a forum for publication and can stimulate opportunities for knowledge development

Examples: Weblogs and Blogging Discussion Forums Digital Portfolio development

Weblogs and Blogging

Some Definitions Weblog: An online journal Blog: Slang form of Weblog Blogger: Someone who maintains

and/or contributes to a blog Blogging: (To Blog) to write into the

journal Blogosphere: All blogs can be found here

Webopedia definition:

http://webopedia.com/TERM/b/blog.html

(n.) Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly-accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

21st Century Definition of Literacy

Literacy = Communication (reading + writing)

Blogging = Communication (reading + writing)

Blogging = Literacy

From David Warlick, Classroom Blogging: A Teacher’s Guide to the Blogosphere

Characteristics of Weblogs

FormatDesigned to be updated with items

chronologically, similar to a personal journal or diary

Articles and postings can be grouped by the date and time they are posted

Characteristics of Weblogs

SoftwareOften implemented using special softwareCommon software includes Blogger,

Manila, Greymatter, Movable TypeFree weblog registration available online

Characteristics of Weblogs

PersonalityOften the subject matter is of a personal

natureThe journal can be about the author and/or

their opinions of the world

Characteristics of Weblogs

CommunityFostering an online community by

comments posted in response to articlesOften encourages active participation in

the discussion

Common Uses of Weblogs

Journal: Personal (with group input and discussion optional)

Journal: Group (to share materials and ideas formally or informally)

To present information online (news, organisation focus website)

Store and share knowledge (discussion and collaboration)

Weblog and Blogging Examples

Baghdad Burning – girl blog from Iraq http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

EduBlog Insights – teacher blog http://anne.teachesme.com/

eLearning Blog – school community http://www.123elearning.blogspot.com

Weblog and Blogging Student Examples

Blogger.com process journal Sakib Prottoy Shabab

Theory of Knowledge discussion forum Saif

Literature class Secret Life of Bees and a discussion example

Student Digital Portfolios

Students to digitize their work and present it via a web-page interface

Work through the process of planning, selecting and reflecting, creating and publishing

Student Digital Portfolios

Advantages of using a Weblog for online publication

Instant publicationAlways accessible at school and at homeProvides web page publishing flexibilityCan upload many file formatsCan be modified to suit individual personalityHas the potential for greater collaborative

work via the discussion areas on class and individual weblogs

Student Digital Portfolios

Why an online learning community?

Students are involved in: Maintaining an online

journal and discussion work

Creating a collaborative learning community to help each other through the portfolio

development process

Student Digital Portfolios

Examples:

Shaveena

Shakila

Nahar

Afiq

Rayan

How Do You Get Started?

Free online services for weblogs and blogging

www.blogger.comwww.schoolblogs.comwww.bloglines.com

Presented by:

Julie Lindsay

Head of Technology

International School Dhaka

julie.lindsay@isdbd.org