In this post I plan to reflect on the functionality and scope of
websites as a learning based technology and the ways that they can be used to
interact with and reflect students learning.
The strengths of website creation and production lie in its
ability to use multi modal messages to convey meaning. When using a website as
a teaching platform you have the ability to direct students learning by linking
to appropriate content. Using videos, games and other websites to display
a shared meaning of your topic can enhance a learners interaction with the
materials. However there is weakness in using a website to only model
teaching. The weakness lies in the need for students to be self directed
in their use of the tools provided. This means that not all students will
engage with the material. It is important therefore to ensure that
websites are used interactively by students as creators of information not
simply as receivers.
In a classroom setting I would use website design for both group and individual collaboration simultaneously. Where students would create a website as a project. The home page would be designed as a group interaction but each individual would create their own sub page that links into the group's ideas. As a teacher I think it would be important to first assess the group's computer literacy skills and then ensure that stronger students were grouped with those of less skill. By using Vygotsky's social development theory, I am looking to ensure that interaction with students of different skill level will increase all students understanding of the technology and in turn the topic (Culatta 2012) . Scaffolding would be need to be explicit. I know personally from my website building experience that if you are unsure of the content you need, it is easy to upload meaningless information. It would be important to direct the topic with specific question sets so that everyone will cover the learning materials but engage with the questions in their own way.
There are real opportunities with website creation to build
technological skills for students but also there is the ability to assess their
understanding of the topic that they are working on. By asking children
to present their information in website format, they can demonstrate the ways
in which they have linked knowledge together. Through their use of
digital images and textual information, it will be easy to see where they are
getting their ideas from and how these are being put together to create
meaning.
My Weebly Website and the things I found out
Just finished my first run at creating a website with Weebly. Once I came up with the content idea, it was fun to set up the design and fill in the blanks. Blogs, websites and wikis all have a place in the classroom environment. Each has the ability to integrate different styles and presentations. Websites would be best used to publish assignments, that are generated by individuals. Teachers could build them and have students interact with the content in their homework time. By uploading interesting links to sites they might enjoy or you tube videos that capture the students and show them insight into the topic that you are wanting to explain.
Hi Samone, It is interesting to think about what we need in order to get started and what that tells us about what our students might also need. When introducing a new tool such as these what sort of scaffolding or challenge might you use to help your students get started?
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