1. Blogs & Wikis Ricardo Amaral & Rebecca Hottiger
ICT
Blogs & Wikis
Ricardo Amaral & Rebecca Hottiger 1

2. WHAT IS ICT? Information and communication technologies
The purpose of ICT in education is generally to familiarise students with the use and workings of computers, and related social and ethical issues.
( ation)

3. WHY ICT?
Working with the computer is a basic skill like reading or writing
The Internet is here to stay!
TASK:
 What are the advantages / disadvantages of using the Internet in the language classroom? Discuss! 3

4. ICT: ADVANTAGES
Internet is one of the most important tools in our daily life  basic skill
Using ICT is motivating for learners
The Internet provides a wide variety of different themes / topics, accessible in diverse ways
Includes many learning styles
Develops autonomous learning 4

5. ICT: ADVANTAGES Window on the outside world
Connects people from all corners of the world
 multicultural communication possible
Involves learners actively
AUTHENTIC LANGUAGE 5

6. ICT: DISADVANTAGES Needs detailed preparation
Teacher might be afraid of learners` knowledge in terms of ICT
Needs time
Can be distractive
Teacher out of control
Learners are exposed to whatever content they want to take in
Needs clear safety restrictions (to protect learners` identity) 6

7. WHAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE SAID…
Internet is not a replacement of classroom teaching
The internet can do nothing:
It is the teacher who needs to provide clear tasks, also offline activities, to ensure effective learning.
(Lewis 2004) 7

8. INTRODUCTION: What are blogs & wikis?
Blogs and Wikis are social softwares
They are websites / webpages
They are computer tools which allow people to connect, to communicate and to collaborate online 8

9. WIKIs
The name „wiki“ derives from a Hawaiian- language word meaning “quick, fast“.
A wiki is like a public website / web page, started by one person, but which subsequent visitors can add to, delete or change as they wish
Therefore, a wiki is more dynamic and can have multiple authors
It has a non-linear structure
(Dudney, Gavin and Hockly, Nick (2007), p ) 9

10. WIKIs
A wiki is perfect for collecting information and material on a particular subject
Wikis have a history function, thus there is no risk of a deletion of correct information  prior version can be looked at all the time
Example: Wikipedia

11. WIKIs IN LANGUAGE TEACHING
Wikis can be used in various ways, ranging from very simple to more complex levels (only reading / listening  only editing  creating new pages)
Vocabulary:
Key vocabulary
Unit / topic vocab
Vocab scrapbook
English around you
Grammar
Error correction
True / false friends
Questions & problems 11

12. WIKIs IN LANGUAGE TEACHING
A wiki is perfectly suitable for developing reading, writing and listening skills:
Reading:
Learners first have to read what is already there (or follow the links)
Learners have to generate knowledge by reading about the content they wish to write about 12

13. WIKIs IN LANGUAGE TEACHING
Writing:
Leads to collaborative writing
Includes all important factors for an effective writing didactic:
is meaningful
Has a purpose
Has readers
Learners can choose a content they like 13

14. WIKIs IN LANGUAGE TEACHING
Writing:
Supports process writing:
Brainstorming
Draft
Revise
Edit
Publish 14

15. WIKIs IN LANGUAGE TEACHING
Listening:
Teacher can add links to other pages with videos or upload sound files
Learners then work with the source for creating a new page 15

16. WIKIs: An example of a wiki-project
Topic: famous people
Teacher sets up first page, outlining the topic and the tasks / steps for the learners
In pairs, learners are going to write a description of a famous person. They are asked to include a certain number of factual errors. For collecting material, the learners use online encyclopedias (like wikipedia.com). After writing, they add the new page to the wiki (needs clear instruction by teacher) 16

17. WIKIs: An example of a wiki-project
Each pair reads a description of another pair. By using the Edit mode, they correct “wrong“ information, also using online encyclopedias. Depending on the level of the class, they then could be asked to add grammatical errors to the page. The first pair of learners then tries to correct the newly added errors.

18. CONSIDERATIONS
Considering the public nature of the internet, it is probably worth asking other classes to take a look at the wiki and contribute to it
Also parents could be asked to have a look at it
Knowing that their products are available for the public encourages the learners to do a good job
But: The wiki can also be kept as an internal class project
Add a password to the wiki. By doing that, the project keeps the privacy of the classroom and protects the learners

19. LINKS Pbwiki (www.pbwiki.com) MediaWiki (http://www.mediawiki.org)
Wikihost (
WikiSpace (
My own wiki: ICT in the ELT classroom

20. RESOURCES
Dudney, Gavin and Hockly, Nick (2007): How to teach English with technology. Pearson Longman
Lewis, Gordon (2004): The Internet and young learners. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Lewis, Gordon (2009): Bringing technology into the classroom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Potts, John (2010): Making more of the internet in your Cambridge Teaching. (October 2010) 20

21. BLOGS What is a blog? Name stands for ‚web log’ An electronic journal
Mostly kept by one person
Can be used by multiple actors
Posts: comments, thoughts, analyses, experiences etc.
Consists of written texts, pictures, photos and videos
Usually arranged in backwards chronological order

22. SOCIAL SOFTWARE Blogs allow readers to comment on entries
Only invited members have commenting privileges (measure of security)
Link between blog writers and readers
Online communities around a topic, interest or a person

23. EDUBLOGS Blogs used in education
Cover wide range of topics related to education
Edublog can be set up by teachers, by individual learners and/or by a class
3 types of edublogs:
Teacher blogs
Student blogs
Class blogs

24. blog set up an maintained by a teacher
TEACHER BLOG
blog set up an maintained by a teacher
learners’ access and reading happens outside the classroom
provide learners with:
news
comments on issues
extra reading practice
homework
reviews of class work
online links on specific topics
summary of a class for learners who were unable to attend
study tips etc.
Teacher blog:

25. STUDENT BLOGS
Teacher may encourage learners to set up and maintain an individual blog
Learners are asked to add a post once/twice a week
Content:
Comments on currents affairs
Descriptions of daily activities
Comments and reactions to students blog postings from other classes in other cities, cantons, countries
Student blog:

26. CLASS BLOG Blog used by an entire class
all learners post to the same blog
Can be used to post comments on certain topics, class work etc.
Class blog:

27. BLOG EXAMPLES SOURCE: LEWIS, GORDON (2009)
Tutor blog
Student blog
Class blog
Set homework.
Personal and family information (including photos).
Reactions to a film, article, class topic, current affairs.
Provide a summary of class work.
Extra writing practice on class topics.
Things learners like/don‘t like doing in class.
Provide links to extra reading/listening material.
Regular comments on current affairs.
A class project on any topic.
Question and answer (e.g. about grammar, class work).
Reserach and present information on a topic (e.g. English-speaking country).
Exam/Study tips.
A photoblog on learner‘s country, holyday, town.

28. ADVANTAGES blogs provide a ‘real’ world tool
learners practise their written English
contacting from other parts of the world; international exchange

29. PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
‘correction’:
How much help are learners given with their written work?
Written work should be as accurate as possible  public access!
Teacher needs to be well prepared
Plenty of time for writing, reviewing, redrafting, checking posts before added to the blog
Learners prepare blog entries in word processing program
Encourage peer reviewing of work in process

30. ASSESSMENT A blog is essentially a written assignment
Posts can be used for evaluation
Criteria for evaluation need to be clear in advance
Accuracy
Fluency
Coherence
Relevance
Criteria related to the visual nature of this electronic medium
Effective use of visuals
Visual presentation overall
Length of postings
Awareness of audience

31. BLOGS IN ELT How to start using blogs with learners
A simple blog project that you can use with learners of all levels is to get your students to set up their own student blogs, writing about themselves, their interests, family, home, country etc. including some photos.
Step 1 – Setting up a sample blog
Step 2 – Setting up student blogs
Step 3 – Posting to and visiting blogs
Step 4 – Follow up

32. STEP 1 – SETTING UP A SAMPLE BLOG (1-2 HOURS)
Teacher should create a blog in advance
Similar to what the learners are expected to do
It allows to become familiar with the blog interface and how it works
It shows what a blog is
It provides a model for the students’ blog in terms of
Content: what learners can write about
Language: the level of language expected
Look: including photos etc.

33. STEP 2 – SETTING UP STUDENT BLOGS (1 HOUR)
Help learners to set up their own blogs
Individual, pair or groups blogs depending on availability on computers
Note that helping learners can be very intensive!
Projection of a computer screen with a data projector can take learners through the blog set- up process step by step

34. STEP 3 – POSTING TO AND VISITING BLOGS (1 HOUR)
Give the learners enough time to prepare and post content, add pictures/photos etc.
Encourage the students to share their blog addresses and to visit other’s blogs and post comments

35. STEP 4 – FOLLOW UP (2-3 HOURS OR SEVERAL LESSONS)
it’s well worth carrying using the blogs for more than a couple of classes
encourage learners to post regularly over a certain period of time (term, semester)
teacher can provide ideas and suggestions for content
blogs can be kept as:
internal class project or
other classes
international network with learners from other countries.
note that blogs have a limited lifespan – only 50 percent of blogs are estimated to be active three month after being set up!

36. FREE BLOG SITES Blog pages are freely available on the internet
very user-friendly
setting up a blog is a straightforward process
no need of specialist technical knowledge
Links:
Blogger
WordPress
EzBlogWorld
xanga:
LiveJournal:

37. RESOURCES
Dudney, Gavin and Hockly, Nick (2007): How to teach English with technology. Pearson Longman
Lewis, Gordon (2004): The Internet and young learners. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Lewis, Gordon (2009): Bringing technology into the classroom. Oxford: Oxford University Press