Adding a powerpoint/slideshow on your blog allows you to share further information in a different way.This can be added by uploading your work to slideshare and embedding the HTML code into the new post configurations of Blogger. It is really quite as simple as that. Be sure to remember to click the HTML link in Blogger as opposed to the compose button!

You can embed an audio file from SoundCloud by using the add to Blogger button or embedding the HTML code using the HTML as opposed to the compose button in new post for Blogger. Audio files once again allow for that differentiation of learning. You can add audio to pictures you have added into your Blog and not just plain text. Creativity is once again being used as each student selects various means and interprets various ways to add and show their learning. They can voice their thoughts and communicate their ideas. This is just another way students can illustrate their creativity, critical and innovative thinking.

Functions and Features of a BLOG

EDEL20002 4.2

FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES OF A BLOG

Upload or embed pictures

• Nearly all Blogs allow you to upload or embed pictures. You can use the widgets/gadgets in Blogger to add your photo or embed it into your post (Just look below at the feet) when composing and wanting to add photos into Blogger you can link the photos using the LINK application in the compose new post area.

Being able to add photos to your Blog enhances the posts and for learners who are visual it stimulates their learning, knowledge and interest. It also builds on student creativity, while allowing others' viewing the post an insight into further understanding of the bloggers' ideals, insights and ideas. For a more detailed evaluation of Blogs in learning please see my other blog @ http://nicfin1.blogspot.com.au/

Inserting Multimedia

Uploading a video from your home computer/ mobile device or webcam can be a little more difficult. Some videos will upload directly from the compose section of Blogger and upload directly to your new post however, videos are generally much larger and difficult to upload. You can get around this by uploading your video to another site such as YouTube or Vimeo and use THEIR embed feature to embed the video to your own site/blog.

The above video was made using Movie Maker and saved as a WMV file then uploaded to Blogger. When using video teachers and students are able to capture the moment, connect with learning inside and outside the classroom. They can share the experience and information, For example, in a Blog about rain fall and run off, students can create their own videos at the beach or in their own backyard when it rains following where the water goes etc. They can upload this and share their information with others. They can compare information from other bloggers and gain a greater understanding themselves. When younger students partake in creating Blogs there are some factors that may need to be explicity taugh such as, embedding videos, images and so forth.

"Pedagogical approach to teaching and technology'

The past can only inform and not determine the future of teaching and learning...(Prensky, 2008)

Teachers of today are preparing students for roles that may not yet exist in this ever-changing, ever evolving world. As students create, explore, and learn teachers need to adapt from worn out 20th century teaching where the teacher’s role was directive and ingrained in authority. This is a time when rote learning and behaviourism was a major style of learning theory and discussion about topics between children was frowned upon. Teaching in the 21st century should be a very different affair; students should be at the centre of their own learning, discussion between students encouraged and the teacher is now the facilitator. Teachers are mentors, allowing students to build their own route in their education.

A pedagogy rich in constructivist methods allows for learning that is active and real; it promotes a higher order of thinking and greater retention of knowledge. Learning and teaching theories and technology must be combined to create better learning for today’s student. Schools need to reflect the ever changing needs of society because those we teach are the future of this society. They will provide us with the medications we need and will develop cures for the diseases we may have. They will create, and produce those things that make our everyday living easier. Furthermore, they will create the cars and technology that will protect our environment along with much more.

In a technology-rich environment one must remember that the educational focus is on learning and instructional goals instead of the technology itself, the technology is merely the tool or vehicle for delivering instruction (Campoy, 1992). The technology used is not important; it is how the technology is used which makes it relevant in a constructivist classroom. In technology rich classrooms the teacher uses smaller group instruction than whole class; coaching rather than lecturing; students are more actively engaged; students are more cooperative and less competitive; students learn different things instead of all the same things and there is an integration of both visual and verbal thinking. Learning is independent, individualised, interactive, interdisciplinary and intuitive (Barr, 2001). Learning is ongoing!

Pedagogical approaches to teaching such as Inquiry, PBL, Cooperative Learning and Reciprocal Learning promotes and establishes students as inventive thinkers with global connections. It caters for student advances in communication and collaboration allowing for the development of students' personal and civic responsibility, their information management and interpersonal skills. With a digital-age-literacy students need to become adaptable, have self direction; be creative, innovative and able to manage complexity.

A 21st century pedagogical approach integrates technology and accommodates varying levels of student competency and individual learning styles, motivate students to take ownership of their learning, teach students how to learn-creating lifelong learners and measures or assesses what matters.

Technology offers teachers and students’ flexibility and adaptability allowing for reflective pedagogies across learning models such as activity theory, social constructivism, situated learning and constructivism. Because of technology as a tool in learning, these theories have been altered and have become more powerful. This is because we cannot have technology without a constructivist approach to learning and teaching. It is not possible to use worn out didactic methodology that incorporate technology. We cannot and should not use these methods in a technology rich environment.

I believe that being connected to online learning and myself a lifelong learner that my teaching pedagogy is very connected to 21^st century pedagogies. I am unwavering from the fact that today’s student needs technology integrated into their learning and that some of the most vital factors I need to integrate with technology is students who are allowed to collaborate, share, experience, create and express their ideas and knowledge.

References

 

Prensky, M. (2008). Backup education?. Educational Technology, 48(1).