At the start of the year our school purchased RealSmart software. It is a programme that allows students and staff to collaborate. I am discussing the blogging aspect of RealSmart in this blog and I hope my reflections have value for anybody who is considering/using any blogging tool to form part of the students learning.
As I teach in a room with only 1 computer I have been using the blogging aspect of realsmart as a homework tool. I have been impressed with the collaborative nature of the software and believe that the reflections of my Year 7 students show that it has had a massive positive impact.
A good example of how I have used Realsmart blog is the link below. I embedded a YouTube video (filmed with the group in class) and asked the students to show what they had leaned:
The Feudal System
As you can see from the results the mixed-ability students produced a lot of high effort, high quality work.
Below is a video from the class explaining what they like about RealSmart (I believe that their reflections could apply to any blogging tool)
I have found four main benefits of using blogs as part of my teaching.
1) The ability to combine Multi-Media with students learning in one place
The real value for me (an avid YouTuber) has been that I have been able to embed video into my students work. A good example is above with the Year 7 students. I have also been able to embed images into the blogs and this has allowed me to get students to produce detailed analysis of images. An growing example below is from my GCSE class who are using Propaganda posters to analyse the impact of WWII on Britain.
Using Propaganda Posters to Explain how WWII affected Life in Britain
Another example is how I have used video to help students discussing and comparing Birdsong and Blackadder.
Which is the better interpretation; Birdsong or Blackadder?
2) The Inclusive Nature and Accessibility of Blogs
It is with weaker students that I have found the biggest benefit of using blogs. The video content has made the homework much more accessible to the weaker students or those with literacy issues. This has massively improved the quality of the work of these students. It was always relatively easy for the stronger students to produce high end work but much harder for the weaker students; using video has levelled the playing field.
3) The competitive nature of Blogging
Once the expectation of the amount of work has been established the nature of the blogging response encourages the students to be much more competitive. The first post on the propaganda posters Blog is a quality effort and I believe this sets the tone for the rest of the group. Hard-working students are naturally competitive and using blogs really helps to promote this natural competition.
4) A blog is a great Anywhere/Anytime tool for revision
Once a blog has been created and checked/marked by the teacher it forms a brilliant tool for revision. Some students (mainly boys (sorry lads))can find organisation difficult. Quite a few lads have said to me the fact that 'work on a blog/wiki/YouTube can't get lost' is a major positive. Using ICT for revision is also a nice way of 'changing-up' the revision programme.
I think that using a tool like RealSmart for blogging has improved the engagement and inclusive nature of the homework I set. It has also given it more of a lasting use and impact.
As I teach in a room with only 1 computer I have been using the blogging aspect of realsmart as a homework tool. I have been impressed with the collaborative nature of the software and believe that the reflections of my Year 7 students show that it has had a massive positive impact.
A good example of how I have used Realsmart blog is the link below. I embedded a YouTube video (filmed with the group in class) and asked the students to show what they had leaned:
The Feudal System
As you can see from the results the mixed-ability students produced a lot of high effort, high quality work.
Below is a video from the class explaining what they like about RealSmart (I believe that their reflections could apply to any blogging tool)
I have found four main benefits of using blogs as part of my teaching.
1) The ability to combine Multi-Media with students learning in one place
The real value for me (an avid YouTuber) has been that I have been able to embed video into my students work. A good example is above with the Year 7 students. I have also been able to embed images into the blogs and this has allowed me to get students to produce detailed analysis of images. An growing example below is from my GCSE class who are using Propaganda posters to analyse the impact of WWII on Britain.
Using Propaganda Posters to Explain how WWII affected Life in Britain
Another example is how I have used video to help students discussing and comparing Birdsong and Blackadder.
Which is the better interpretation; Birdsong or Blackadder?
2) The Inclusive Nature and Accessibility of Blogs
It is with weaker students that I have found the biggest benefit of using blogs. The video content has made the homework much more accessible to the weaker students or those with literacy issues. This has massively improved the quality of the work of these students. It was always relatively easy for the stronger students to produce high end work but much harder for the weaker students; using video has levelled the playing field.
3) The competitive nature of Blogging
Once the expectation of the amount of work has been established the nature of the blogging response encourages the students to be much more competitive. The first post on the propaganda posters Blog is a quality effort and I believe this sets the tone for the rest of the group. Hard-working students are naturally competitive and using blogs really helps to promote this natural competition.
4) A blog is a great Anywhere/Anytime tool for revision
Once a blog has been created and checked/marked by the teacher it forms a brilliant tool for revision. Some students (mainly boys (sorry lads))can find organisation difficult. Quite a few lads have said to me the fact that 'work on a blog/wiki/YouTube can't get lost' is a major positive. Using ICT for revision is also a nice way of 'changing-up' the revision programme.
I think that using a tool like RealSmart for blogging has improved the engagement and inclusive nature of the homework I set. It has also given it more of a lasting use and impact.