Part 3: Knowledge & Learning

Socialist contructivist thinking believes that ‘knowledge creation is a shared rather than individual experience’ [1] Based on Vygotsky’s educational theory (1978) “meaning making develops through the social process of language use over time”[2] Through the use of Blogs students construct their knowledge though publishing, reflection, providing feedback which all lead to the potential to scaffold their learning and ideas.

Blogs can be seen as a way for action learning to occur where written journals form part of the” interactive action research learning loop”.[3] Through documenting personal thoughts and learning, students are articulating the connection between new information and what they already know, and trying to make sense of this. Although blogs need a clear purpose they still need to remain unscontrained to be effective. Teachers need to see that blogs are “diverse as the writers themselves” therefore should not be prescribed how they must be use and need to remain unconstrained to be effective. [4]

The use of blogs enables users to obtain up to date information that is easily accessible from anwhere with a web connection. The hyperlinks that are often featured in a blog, also have an important role in helping bring new material into a learning environment extending the connection to resources available, and often assists in linking to other useful sources. More and more webpages are providing RSS feeds providing notification of current blog posts, podcasts, products, articles, just by adding RSS feeds to an aggregator. Through the use of feeds information is linked directly to the reader, rather than having to go out and look for this. Technorati and Google Bog Search provide a way to locate RSS feeds related to a topic or webpage of interest. The challenge now is not how to access this information but how to use it.

The relationship between the teacher and student is altered when using blogs. The teacher is no longer the imparter of knowledge, or in control of the learning but is being taught along with the students. Each person is encouraged to share information and learn from each other. Everyone has the potential to be the mentor who can offering suggestions, questions, or gudiance, which creates a more dynamic and equitable learning environemnt..

However it appears that blog users need time and control over when and how they use blogs. A study on the use of blogs in a learning environment conducted at Brisbane Graduate school of Business, provides an insight into the views of blog users:

• Vistors participate by reading a blog or using links , and learn from what others have to say
• Develop confidence and overcome fears, develop a sence of belonging and increase understanding by ‘lurking’in a blog.
• May choose not to contribute as they are unsure if they have anything valuable to contribute.
• Active particpants or contributors, develop skills in critical thinking and argument creation by assuming that a 'lurking audience' is present.
  
  Additional comments by students.
  ‘Even though at first people were afraid to take the risk and blog, I found it a good way to discuss concepts and participate in further discussion. It also allowed the sharing of up-to-date information that would not have been possible in lecture time’.
  
  ‘I spent time prior to each blog constructing and entry. To do that I did need to have a good understanding of what I wanted to blog about. I also spent time reading and considering the blogs of other students and found their comments and perspectives thought provoking’. [5]
  
  As Downes suggests, good conversations start with listening before contibuting to a conversation. Thus before knowledge sharing can occur the blog visitor needs to feel comfortable with the topic of conversation before sharing an opinion on a blog. [6] I have found this when 'lurking' in the discussion forums through the edna groups, and have taken many weeks or reading views and opinions before contributing myself to the discussion.
  
  The use of blogs as a learning tool appears to be an evolving process. Initially the amount of information accessible can be overwhelming. Learing how to cull this information and validate the blogs that are useful, reliable and relevant to the users needs takes time. Blogs can be identified as providing useful links, interesting converstaion, identified connection between the writer and reader.
  
  It is through the use of blogs that the learner can apply their knowledge as they interact with others thus providing a useful tool for learning. They can have a greater control of their learning as they they can seek out information, gain access to suggested links, and publish authentic artifacts containing their thoughts and understandings.