Blogger ---- Blogging for ELT
my fabulous guest~!
In this blog, I will give some recommendations of some useful tools that we can apply in ELT. In each post, a brief introduction of a tool,as well as the advantages and limitations of the tool will be presented. :)
In this post, I will introduce an extremely useful tool for ELT! Actually I am using right now: blogging!
The structure of this post is:
1. What is a blog
2. How to use it
3. Activities you can do by blogging in ELT
4. What are the advantages of applying it in ELT
5. What are the pitfalls of using it in ELT
6. Conclusion
7. References
1. What is a blog
"A blog is a frequently updated website that often resembles an online journal."1 For people who can get access to the internet, I guess blogs are quite familiar places for them to go to. In a blog, the owner of the blog can write posts, upload different media, such as pictures, photos, audios and videos, provide links to other websites and receive comments from visitors. Because the owner has the right to set the right of accessibility of viewing the contentin the blog, a blog can be a private space for expressing ideas and emontion, and it can also become a public place for discussions and debates.
2. How to use it
Step 1 go to blogger.com and sign up
Step 2 create a Google account
Step 3 create a blog
The following youtube video is short and very useful. The tutorial gives a clear demonstration for creating a blog.
Click and learn
Step 4 (optional) Advance setting for your blog
If you want a super super professional & beautiful blog especially for business reason,this youtube video can help a lot! It introduces some software you can use to enhance the outlook of your blog! However, you have to pay for the software, plus the video is kinda long :),so skip it, if you don't need it!
That's it :) Try it out!
3.Activities you can do by blogging in ELT
Aaron Campbell(2003) has outlined three types of blogs for use with language classes2,and different activities can be done through these blogs:
The Tutor Blog It is usually managed by a teacher only. In this type of blog, teacher publish materials related to ELT, such as,pre-reading materials for class, curriculum, syllabus,assignments etc. Teacher may also keeps reflective teaching journals and share latest information for ELT. Visitors to the blog are normally restricted to write comments to the post or send private letters to the blog owner only. As like this blog :)
The Class Blog It is run by teachers and students together. It is like an extending classroom where teachers and students can share information, post online resources,do brainstorming, update discussion, and keep reflective journals for study.
The Learner Blog In these blogs, students are in charge. They can do similar activities as teachers do in a tutor's blog, but tend to focus more on their own learning process. It is a private online space for students to continue language learning through writing posts. They can also start discussion, write down concerns about the course or assignments, keep a reflective learning journals and so on. In this type of blogs, visitors, such as teachers, and other students, can also gain resources and information for ELT, and know more about the student's learning experience as well. It is equally important as the two other blogs.
3. The advantages of applying it in ELT
Facilitate classroom learning. As materials, such as pre-reading materials, notices are posted online. In the actual classroom, teachers can save a lot of time and conduct other activities.Also, when teachers start some discussions with students or ask them to conduct small-scale research, students can become more prepared for the coming lessons. In the meanwhile, blogging can push students to further their study after the class as well, because teachers can provide extra reading materials in the blogs.
Boost efficiency in learning. The internet is like a vast ocean of knowledge. By blogging, both teachers and students can recommend and share useful websites and tools for learning.The traditional reading method can never compete with visual and audio effect of these websites for learning in many ways.Students may find it more interesting to do self-study by using these resources and the learning result can be more satisfying.
Extend teachers' professional knowledge and refine their teaching practice.Teacher can communicate with teachers from all around the world, sharing ideas and concepts about teaching. The reflective journals of their teaching experiences may become inspirations for other teachers as well. Moreover,they surely come across different difficulties in teaching, their solutions to these problems can be useful for other teachers as well.
Serve as a public online bulletin. When information of the class, such as syllabus and assignments are posted online, students no longer need to worry about forgetting these notices, because they can read the information again through teacher blog.Also students can gain more information about the course online through the provided links as well.
Follow up the students' learning process. Teachers can gain more inside into students learning experience and learning process by reading learners blogs. Many students, especially for the shy students, it is hard for them to communicate with teachers face-to-face, so it is hard to know problems they encounter in the classroom. Blogging can solve this problem.As students write their blogs in private time, they feel more relaxed to express their thoughts.Therefore by visiting students blogs, teachers can follow up students more closely.
Help students to build up confidence in learning. When students read about other students reflections, they can gain more understanding about their own study habits. They can find that they are not alone, when facing some learning difficulties. They can interact with students internationally, and consult them by commenting in the blogs. Therefore, the possibility of overcoming their aversion is higher. What they can form is not only a better pattern of studying, but confidence in learning as well.
Increase a sense of belonging to a class. Especially by using a class blog, teachers can help students to foster a sense of community in a class, which is significantly helpful for creating a nice learning atmosphere in the learning process and lowering down the negative impact of competition. The constant sharing ideas and even emotion changes towards learning can help students build up a stronger bond between each other and foster trust and team spirit. It is beneficial for managing a class, and add much more enjoyment in learning.
4. pitfalls of using it in ELT
Access to computer and internet. It is not only for blogging, but for every tool that we use through computer and internet, the accessibility to these technology poses the biggest challenge for applying them in teaching. Even through internet is spreading across different continents,many places, especially in developing countries, it is not affordable for many to enjoy the merits of high-tech.
Control of comments. If the blog owner set comments as "need approval before publish", it will cost too much work. However, if we set "pbulish immediately", some unwanted comments may appear and generate negative influence.
Pose legal issues. Some links to websites may cost violation or infringement of intellectual property rights.It is hard to inspect all the contents and links and may bring up legal issues.
Cost violation to privacy. If blogs set to be "open to the public", even through it can attract more teachers and students to join discussions or share experience, at the same time, privacy of the blogger can become an issue, and potential harm might be posted by unwanted visitors.
Conclusion
Overall, blogging itself is a helpful tool for teaching and learning English. It can make learning more interesting and effective, ss long as it is well organized and constantly being updated,
References
1.http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/articles/blogging-elt
2.http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Campbell-Weblogs.html
Well~~
My fabulous guest !
How do you feel about blogging for ELT ?
Please tell me about your ideas by leaving me a comment, your feedback is valuable to me :)
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