What is a Blog?

On first hearing that I had needed to make a blog for my new online unit that I am undertaking, my first thought was “Oh Lordy! How am I going to do this?” Then I found myself thinking, well what even is the actual thing that I’m not sure that I can do?! After some research I have found that a blog can be used my many people for many different reasons. Further, after discussing blogs with the people around me, I found that I have already had some (however little) interactions with the world of blogging. I was part of a friend’s blog as she shared our experiences together as we traveled Vietnam, I have lots of friends who commonly read bogs both for information and enjoyment. I even discovered that my very own mother has a blog! On discovering this I came to the conclusion that this is something that I need to get involved in. So I’ll start with an introduction to blogging itself, here’s what I found:

• The word “blog” comes from “web log” or “weblog” which I think is amazing
• A blog is a way of sharing “stuff” with the world. The “stuff” that is shared ranges greatly from a personal diary of day to day events (such as shopping lists and personal achievements and recipes) to something like this blog here. I don’t get me wrong, I’m not expecting people to be quickly following me because of my brilliant teaching ideas or learning insights. I am hoping this blog will lead me somewhat to that. Partially, yes, this blog is only in existence because of my current enrollment in EDFD459, but I have high hopes that it will become what is referred to as a PLN (Personal Learning Network).

So wish me luck on this crazy blogging adventure!

What is Web 2.0

It has been said by Selwyn (2012) that Web 2.0 has “undoubted educational potential”. It is through the variety of internet tool that is commonly referred to by the umbrella term, Web 2.0 that we are able to, as Haylee mentioned not only use the internet to search for information but use it as a tool for communication and sharing of information. This is creating an environment where people such as ourselves (pre-service teachers) are gaining more knowledge about the profession we are about to enter, and in doing so, are gaining more confidence in an ever-competing world. Web 2.0 can allow for closer correlation of teaching practices to the curriculum, more engaged students (thus higher achievement levels), a shift to student centred learning, more meaningful assessment and most importantly better connectedness to the world.

I do believe that we (as teachers) should use Web 2.0 in a responsible way and not being using such a tool in the classroom simply to be using it. We need to ensure correct pedagogy of literacy remains to be taught explicitly although I do believe that teaching digital reading skills are essential for literacy development in the twenty-first century.

About Me…

Hello Interweb!

Image Source: Emma Hancock

My name is Emma and I am currently studying at Australian Catholic University (Aquinas Campus) to be a primary school teacher.

This is my first blog post ever so let’s get something straight right here and now… I’m not the most tech savvy person in the world. You know that person who’s always asking, “How do I use that app?” or “Can you help me fix this?” That person is me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely hopeless… I’m not about to click on an email alerting me to the fact I’m the one hundred thousandth customer or unfreeze my computer by putting it in the microwave. I can deal with the basics of technology but anything more complex than PowerPoint… let’s just say I’d struggle.

Being fully aware of my blindingly evident lack of knowledge about the online style of learning, I am currently undertaking a unit known as EDFD459, The Learning Space. This leads me specifically to this blog and optimistically, I hope that I will gain a more concrete understanding of what it means to be an online learner and eventually (fingers crossed) engage my students one day in the world of online learning.