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Blogs in Media Education – By Adrian Miles (A blog about blogging!)
Blogs in Media Education is a blog about blogging, aimed at those who are wondering about how blogs may be relevant to their professional practice as a teacher, or as a classroom tool.
According to Adrian Miles, a blog is a wed based publication which traditionally consists of varying lengths of entries which are published online and classified as ‘pots’. As I have recently learnt in my first networked media tutorial, a blog has: a name; a blogroll (which is a list and links of other blogs or websites which the blogger uses); recent comments; recent posts; an about me section about the blogger; and numerous other assets which can be modified to suits the bloggers interests.
A blog is a way of developing informal and loquacious posts which can be shared with the public. These blogs can be interlinked and networked between blogs, allowing individuals to have a voice and express opinions to the public.
There are many reasons why individuals use blogs. One of the main reasons, is to educate individuals. In terms of how blogs are used in teaching, they can be used to document your practice, to encourage and support reflective and process based learning, to nurture peer supports and learning, to provide a record of achievement, in assisting idea creation, supporting collaboration, and finally in developing multiliteracies that allow participation within contemporary information ecologies as creators, rather than being limited to being passive consumers.
This reflects the use of our networked media blog which is a place to discuss, note, record, document, discuss, argue about, reflect upon, interrogate and critique what we learn through readings, classes and lectures.
As I have recently learnt, it is important to monitor what you post on your blog or others blogs because anything which is posted on the internet is there for life as a digital footprint is created.
The internet is a paradigm shift in communication technologies which has positive and negative aspects. It allows individuals to have a voice through their online portfolio and online identity. Individuals have the ability to create an online personality which they can shape and control through their blog posts or comments on others posts. They provide ample opportunities for individuals to participate and connect with others who are part of the online world, educating themselves within the information rich, interlinked and emergent network.