'Blogs, reflective practice and student centered learning' by Russell Beale

In this study Russell Beale investigates the value of Blogs in terms of them encouraging reflective practice, and finds them to have encouraged student involvement and satisfaction. With their links to other relevant sites, discussion opportunities and now more simple set up, teachers are coming to use blogs more and more. The school i am currently placed in for my serial week experience is in the process of setting up class blogs, to allow children to engage more practically in their learning and also to allow parents more access to information regarding what their child gets up to at school. Parents and children will be able to see and be involved in project work, digital photos of activities and future planned events.

However some teachers do have understandable reservations regarding the use of blogs as a replacement for newsletters and as an interactive learning space. Many of these fears seem to center around the teachers desire for a clear work life balance, and the worry that blogs will take up much more of their time outside of school. The issue of whether all pupils would be able to access the blogs was also of concern, as they needed to take account of the fact that some children and parents did not have access to the Internet or a computer at home.Therefore these pupils would not be included in the venture unless the teacher provided times after school or in breaks for them to use school equipment, or managed to persuade the parents to take the time to get their children to a public access area such as the local library or Internet cafe.

These concerns are understandable, particularly from an inclusion perspective, however I do believe the criticism that it would take up more time is probably invalid. It may be that blogging initially takes more time but i do think this would then decrease with practise and as the site begame more establish and links etc were formed. It certainly seems to be that teachers need to move forward to incorporate the rapidly changing world if they are to enable their students to take part in a futuristic workforce. Issues of inclusion will decrease as technology comes down in price and untill that time the internet is widely availiable in arenas outside the home and the effort needed to access it will reap benefits.
Link to Beale Article;
http://www.pgce.soton.ac.uk/ict/NewPGCE/PDFs/Blogs%20reflective%20prac%20student%20centred%20learn.pdf