Educational Blogging

I want to incoporate some of the educational information about blogging into my blog space. As you can see on the side, I have a couple links to educational blogs. On our instructors site, he has posted questions for which we should make responses. I would like to give all of you who visit my site a couple pieces of this insite. In replying to two of my classmates blog post, I wanted to give yall a better understanding of how blogs are used in the educational world.

We have been looking at quite a bit of information regarding the Web 2.0 world. Web 2.0 is a world where 'virtual' interaction takes place out on the web rather than just using the web in a one-way situation conversation so to say. You get to communicate with others on information you're looking for rather just finding information and coming away not quite sure if that's what you want or not.

One of the Web 2.0 pieces we looked at is called Wiki. Wiki comes means 'quick' which is derived from the Hawiaan word quick. Wiki is an on-line enclyclopedia. What makes this enclycopedia unique is that people out on the web can post to it. They give their definitions of words and then link to sources and other information.

One of the students in my class name Chris said he could use a Wiki space in his classroom as a way to further develop students writing and their thought patterns. Chris said that student's would have to give an explanation of how they found information and then list procedures they took to get to the answers they listed.

I think this would be very helpful for students. Having students write out their information from step 1 through 10 is the way it should be done anyway. But most times, students always put short phrases or incomplete sentences down and paper and then expect for the teacher to say make assumptions or complete the sentence themselves. Using a Wiki would help them see there is a proper way to answer questions.

Another Web 2.0 piece we look at is called Flickr. Flickr is an on-line search engine for images. Any and everybody could import their images (pictures, graphics etc) into this site and tag them by using labes. Say for example someone wanted a picture of a fish (a bluegill) and couldn't find it out on the web. Some one who likes to fish could have taken a picture of this big bluegill they caught and then post it in Flickr for the whole world to see. And anyone who is looking for a picture of a bluegill could easily find it under a label called fish.

Laura from our class said she would use Flickr as a way for students to do research. Students would have to go out to Flickr and then use the tags listed and grab particular pictures.

Having students search in the same area would keep them from coming across so many unwanted images and cut down the time it takes looking rather than getting the assignment done.

I think Flickr is a pretty good idea. Sometimes you just want a picture for the oddest things. People put all kinds of unique images in Flickr. Most times, you want a more natural, true to life image rather than a painted picture that says nothing.

Go ahead my visitors and give some of this educational stuff and little view. There's a lot out there. I'm going to add more of the educational links out there. Take a look!