Encountering E-Learning Education

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“I think it’s the most beautiful tool of the world and it allows us the most magic thing…”—Florence Dassylva-Simard, fifth-grade student”.

This reflection upon children’s use of technology in primary education is primarily focused on Stephen Downes’ article entitled “Educational Blogging”. I have written more extensively on this article as part of my static pages. However, I found the article so insightful and intersesting that I thought it worthwhile commenting in my blog posting for other students to respond to.

The article describes online weblogs used by students at the Institute St Joseph in Quebec City as “a virtual extension of the classroom”. At St Joseph students’ use weblogs in numerous ways such as a classroom web space, site of announcement, posting for work, communication zone, reflective sphere and private personal space.

A fifth grade student at St Joseph commented:”The blogs give us a chance to communicate between us and motivate us to write more. When we publish on our blog, people from the entire world can respond by using the comments link. This way, they can ask questions or simply tell us what they like. We can then know if people like what we write and this indicates to us what to do better. By reading these comments, we can know our weaknesses and our talents. Blogging is an opportunity to exchange our point of view with the rest of the world not just people in our immediate environment.” (Downes, 2004)

I discovered that weblogs are an invaluable tool for promoting educational reflective analysis as well as developing the “emergence of a learning community that goes beyond the school walls” (Asserlin cited in Downes, 2004). Blogs used to “archive and publish student work, learn with far-flung collaborators, and manage the knowledge that members of the school community create.” (Richardson cited in Downes 2004). This learning technology can also be used by school communities as a source of information and communication.

Weblogs could be perceived as primarily consisting of a series of personal comments and observations. But Downes illustrates how this is a very restrictive and limited understanding of weblogs.  Weblogs must be recognised as more than an online journal. Weblogs have an immense capacity to link to resources as well as offering a space for personal reflection. Therefore blogs could be viewed in their simplest form as forum for “personal publishing” (Downes, 2004). This concept of weblogs has significant implication for education.  On a basic level a primary advantage of weblogs is the way they encourage students to become competent writers. As Rosalie Brochu, a student at St-Joseph, observes: “The impact of the blogs on my day to day life is that I write a lot more and a lot longer than the previous years. I also pay more attention when I write in my blog (especially my spelling) since I know anybody can read my posts.”

I found this reading very informative and worthwhile in widening my perspective on weblogs and their use in the classroom. I’m particularly looking forward to developing my understanding of weblogs as an online learning tool and using them to their greatest capacity within primary education.

Reference 

Downes, S. (2004). Educational blogging. EDUCAUSE Review, 39(5), 14–26.

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Over the last couple of days I have been reflecting on what determines the course of students’ learning. What are the many interconnecting factors which affect the success or extent of one’s discoveries, achievements or educational findings?  I was particularly challenged and enlightened by Krizzia and Shirley’s vodcast entitled “The Learning Journey”. They used four main images as metaphors for learning. The first was the image of a road. This was representative of how learning is a journey and a road to discovery. It is about discovering new places, people, experiences and spaces. They discussed how the road to discovery is not always smooth as it can involve obstacles as well as dead ends. The second illustrative metaphor was a suitcase. They conveyed how this suitcase holds your memories and knowledge, things you have found out for yourself and things you have been taught. The third metaphor was a compass which represented the guidance we seek on our journeys. This can be from teachers, friends and family. The final symbol for learning was light illustrated by a lighthouse. Krizzia and Shirley discussed how light is necessary in illuminating the direction and path to discovery. For students, the school can act as a lighthouse. It was interesting to observe the many interrelating factors which determine the path or course of learning. As Krizzia states:

“Learning is multi-facaded, it really can be everything and anything that you want to be–it’s up to the individual. I think that is what must be promoted in the primary classroom, as well as in high school and further education. Learning is an individual journey of discovery in which one is supported by so many people near and far. Today, technology has allowed students to link with other people on the other side of the world to also support them in their learning in so many ways. I believe it is true what they say, “you never stop learning”. It’s like a path which has no definite destination.”