Blogging and Young Children

Vivien Townsend

Aims of the session:

• To give an overview of what blogging is.

• To consider some of the reasons why we should think about using blogs in primary classrooms.

• To share my experiences of using blogs with primary-age children.

What is blogging?

• Web 2.0 tool

• Having a voice

• Audience

• Literacy = communication (reading and writing)

• Blogging = communication (reading and writing)

• Blogging = Literacy

– Warlick, 2005:110

Why blog in schools?

• Positive influence on learning

• Pupils motivated by ICT

• Improves awareness of audience

• Improves communication in school

• Supports collaboration

Methods

• Case studies illuminate the general by looking at the particular.– Denscombe, 2007:36

• The relatability of the case study is more important than its generalisability.– Bassey, 1981:85

The advantage of working online

• Pride in work• Sharing work with

classmates• Giving and receiving

feedback• Link between school

and home• Sharing work with

parents

The benefit of using a bespoke educational tool

• Pupils:– Easy to use and

familiar– Features were

appealing (multimedia and stickers)

– Visually appealing

The benefit of using a bespoke educational tool

• Teachers:– Support materials– Teacher

confidence– Managing

permissions– Passes through

school web-filters

The impact of multimedia

• Enhanced learning• Motivating• Easy to

manipulate• Enjoying watching/

listening at school and home

What still needs looking at

• Commenting

• Genuine audience

• Regular posts

Any questions?

vmbailey13@hotmail.comhttp://www.honeycombtools.com/