Climbing Up the Blog

I came across this diagram when doing some research on the link between student centred learning and blogging. It is from the Education Vision Leadership Blog.

I really think that blogging can increase student participation and allow them to be autonomous in their learning. The above mentioned blog indicates that student centred learning is found in a classroom where "the teachers roam around as mentors and individual learning coaches; learning is tailored to each student’s differences; partake in interactive learning with computers and other technology devices; students are engaged and motivated. The teacher is not the sage on the stage but the guide on the side. In the student centered classroom, the teacher is a coach and mentor, a support person who troubleshoots and problem solves when students need such help. The teacher floats amidst a classroom that is entirely individualized. Not only is each student exposed to a unique curriculum, the pacing of that curriculum is also unique.”

I know that is a long quotation, but I think it really sums up the possibilities blogs in the classroom can create. The only difference is that the learning is in a virtual space, rather than the four walls of a classroom. It allows for greater flexibility, increased participation for the more shy students, and more processing time for students. All elements I have previously blogged about in relation to me approaching blogging in the first place.

I can't really decide where I would place blogging on the ladder. I think it depends on how the blog is used. Are students responding to the teacher, each other, tracking their own progress? Regardless, any flavour of blogging is still yummy...going back to my baking analogy. I guess the higher the rung on the ladder, the healthier the cupcake...I mean blog.