Assessment Task 1.2

When using blogger, a blog is constructed via a simple version of Word- a blank page with an easy to use toolbar at the top.

It has privacy settings, so you can choose to make it public and appear on search engines. It is very easy to use and someone with zero experience with blogs can successfully make a blog and post on it. For those that need a little more help, they have very easy ‘how to’ instructions on the website.

The blog is easily customised. Background, format of the blog, pictures, fonts can all be chosen by you. The background can be customised with a variety of images on blogger or you can upload your own. I found that it asked for an image to be 1800 x 1200 or bigger, but when I found one that size, it told me it was too large. I suspect this is so you choose from their stock images, I have attached screen shots to show the change in background. Fonts are also limited to about 5 or so, understandable on a free website.

Before

After

The blog allows you to use media on it and has an insert video link which can add videos from Youtube, videos from your personal Youtube account, videos from your phone and from a web camera. You are also able to link to websites, picture. I have attached a YouTube instructional video on creating a blog through blogger below.

Using a blog helps you to connect with others by broadcasting your thoughts. You attract like-minded people to share with you, perhaps offer kind words or constructive criticism in your comments. If you have a food blog or a funny blog like Hyperbole and a Half, people will connect with you and share your blog with their friends.

There are three dimensions listed in the Home Economics syllabus, Knowledge and Understanding, Reasoning and Communicating Processes and Practical Performance.

A blog can record the progress a student makes from the beginning of the term to the end. It is clear in my example blog that fictional student Rowan hasn’t put too much thought into her cupcakes. By the end of the course, she would have to think about and demonstrate understanding of dietary requirements and sustainable nutrition when selecting recipes. In terms of reasoning and communication, a blog can record a students reflection as they analyse, synthesise and evaluate the information.

The Practical element of the course could be recorded on the blog via blog and pictures. In my example blog, Rowan showed pictures of what she wanted to make and the end result. To expand on that, she could organise pictures of the whole process from ingredients, videos of the actual mixing  or she could film an instructional video similar to what you see on cooking shows.

The SAMR model has helped me define some ways I could use blogs in either English or Home Economics.

Subtitution: Using a blog with private settings (only accessible to teacher not peers)as an online journal to answer weekly workbook questions on class novel. This is instead of writing in an exercise book.

Augmentation: Teacher can use class blog to make announcements regarding topics/assignments, class trips etc. Students can comment, ask questions, parents can view up to date information. This is like a class newsletter and offers up real time updates and opens up a communication channel as well.

Modification: Students can use a blog to share their  experiences with cooking recipes (like example blog), whether they were successful or not and then reflect on the experience.  Classmates can view and comment, allowing them to give encouragement or share similar experiences and teachers can give feedback directly. 

Redefinition: Blog work is published online as a formal assessment or writing portfolio. 

There are endless ways to use blogs in education, it is just about finding a way to include it that makes sense to the student.