Blogs and RSS Feeds
Reflections from the Introduction of Blogs and RSS Feeds into a Preservice Instructional Technology Course by Richard E. West, Geoff Wright, Bruce Gabbitas and Charles R. Graham describes studies that were performed using emerging technologies such as blogging and RSS feeds with undergraduate preservice teachers. They wanted to show how educators could use technology to be more connected and informed about their profession in the form of reflection and professional development and how they could use the same technology in their classrooms to promote literacy with their students.
The course taught less technology skills but more technology integration principles. Overall the students in the course agreed that the technologies could be meaningful but struggled to learn the technology and understand how to use them effectively.
Three barriers were discovered during the studies shown here in this Figure 1.
Blogs and Feeds
Courses were modified to improve on the barriers discovered. The modifications were based in three areas: explain the purpose for using new technology, how to use the technology and how to apply the technology to achieve learning goals.
Classmates in my program have encountered similar struggles with technology and I agree with them that it would be helpful if we had courses that were designed to teach us the technology there would be less frustration. Some of my classmates had similar struggles in my trends, website development and video classes. However we are graduate students and I think it’s our responsibility to improve our knowledge and quality of our learning either on our own or by asking for assistance from our instructors or classmates. I have had a positive experience both receiving help and giving help.
References:
West, Richard E., Wright, Geoff, Gabbits, Bruce, & Graham, Charles R. (2006). Reflections from the introduction of blogs and RSS feeds into a preservice instructional technology course. TechTrends, 50 (4), 54-60
And as graduate students, we have the resources at hand, whether it be the instructor, the ability to investigate online, etc. I think the crunch for adult learners, graduate students or otherwise, is that we have so many other projects/processes/decisions, etc. going around in our brains everyday, that to “stop” and try to figure it out “alone” can add frustration. I like the “digging” process! But also need the application once I “figure it out” to make true sense of it all!
Hi Carmella, I agree that we need to be proactive in learning how to use the technology. I think activities like asking students to post to their blog at least once a week is a good way to implement hands-on… I’m so new to blogs though that I’m still tryng to figure out the whole structure of a blog website. I like how you’ve added the two blog rolls. I’m going to try to add these rolls to mine.
–Charlotte
Carmella, I think you bring up a good point about students being responsible for learning the technology. Sometimes it may be frustrating and difficult, but it is worth putting in the effort. And it’s great when classmates can help each other out!