I have now begun to encourage my students to use their blogs as a reflective journal. I say it like this, as some are reluctant to begin a truly reflective journal. To quote one student, 'I don't want to tell everyone what I am doing, can't I just be nice?' I can understand what she is getting at in a way, it is one thing writing a journal in diary, or as part of an assignment, but quite another to post your thoughts for, potentially, anyone to read. It is a new concept to apply the fun activities and skills explored on a 'MySpace' account, to develop a critical, analytical writing space for all to see and comment on. Not only are we expecting our students to become reflective practitioners we are hoping that they will be happy to share those reflective thoughts with their peers. Now I am having doubts about the project, time will tell. As I peruse their blogs I should be able to ascertain the level of authenticity and true reflection taking place. If nothing else though, their blogs are still a place that they can express themselves, it might be better if they are allowed to restrict the level of access by the wider world? Who said The Reflective Practitioner is the Effective Practitioner? Do you think he was a blogger?
I like a quote from the link in the last blog by Future Lab discussing the school from 2020 - 'Pupils will be able to look back at lessons at any time via special glasses, which will record their whole lives, creating a reliable "virtual memory".'- puts a new angle on being reflective and will save some pain at exam times too.
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-schon.htm - donald schon (schön): learning, reflection and change
4 comments:
It is not easy for beginning teachers to reflect on their teaching but blogging may help them to do this. A student may make a comment this something went particularly well during a lesson or something went wrong. A fellow blogger might ask the question ’why?’ making the original writer think more deeply about the situation.
Thanks, Mandy, for the blogopportunity! It seems that a few of us are trying the same general approach ie encouraging reflection and promoting teaching and learning as reflective activities. Ties in beautifully with social constructivist learning theory, Guy Claxton's 'Learning Power' and the work of Chris Watkins, among others, on communities of learning.I was interested in the link to Schon - we were working on his ideas in Enfield, 15 years ago, before we all became bogged down in NC ,inspection etc., etc.
Try out Teachers' TV video archive on Primary action research teacher video. Teacher using video to record pupils talking about body image before introducing project on self-esteem. A good use of ICT and might inspire our students for research ideas for dissertations.
Thanks Sue, that video is great and I think a useful one to show my students, as you suggest.
Here is the link, with permission from Teachers TV.
http://www.teachers.tv/video/4888
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