Critique #1 - EDET780

Slide 1: 

Maureen Bergstrom May 16 , 2009 AEET/EDET 780

Classroom blogging in the service of student-centered pedagogy: Two high school teachers’ use of blogs : 

Luehmann, April, MacBride, Robyn, (September 23, 2008) Classroom blogging in the service of student-centered pedagogy: Two high school teachers’ use of blogs. Then Journal. Issue #6. Retrieved May 16, 2009 from: http://thenjournal.org/feature/175/ Classroom blogging in the service of student-centered pedagogy: Two high school teachers’ use of blogs

Introduction : 

Introduction Today’s teachers are faced with many challenges Standards-based accountability initiatives such as No Child Left Behind Student-Centered instruction Getting student voices to become a more integral part of instruction

Purpose of this study : 

Purpose of this study New ideas are needed to meet challenges New ways of teaching need to be addressed Notion of learning is grounded in a social constructivist epistemology

Background of this study : 

Background of this study Teachers need support to face challenges Students need ways to become a more integral part of classroom instruction

One answer - blogs : 

One answer - blogs Two teachers – 1) First-year high school science teacher 2) Veteran high school mathematics teacher Two blogs Different sets of learning opportunities

methods : 

methods In-depth study of at least two different classroom blogs Research questions asked: How did the teacher structure and use their classroom blog, and why? How did the students actually use the classroom blog? What benefits did the teacher attribute to using the classroom blog?

methods : 

methods The following was used when analyzing the blogs and interviews: Process of coding Patterns Trends

Findings – Students perceptions : 

Findings – Students perceptions

Findings – teachers’ perceptions : 

Findings – teachers’ perceptions Deepening understanding of course content Developing community Providing opportunities for ownership and recognition of one’s learning

findings : 

findings

conclusions : 

conclusions Blogging is an emerging and evolutionary process Different styles – different outcomes Students provided opportunities to express opinions Students provided opportunity to individualize and own their learning

Critique of study : 

Critique of study This study made it evident that blogging, like teaching, can be totally different, depending on the teacher

Critique of study : 

Critique of study The one blog was very open, allowing students the chance to truly express themselves. This blog gave the students more expression and thus opened them up to learning more. The other blog was more tightly controlled, not giving the students as much opportunity to express themselves and thus not gaining as much from the outcome.

Critique : 

Critique With any type of analysis, the greater number of items, persons, subjects being used makes a stronger case. This case study looked at two blogs: A Biology blog managed by a first year classroom teacher A pre-calculus blog, managed by a veteran teacher

Critique : 

Critique I believe, the case of using blogs for classroom instruction would have been stronger with more blogs reviewed and analyzed.