I spent some time giving my undivided attention to our text, Chapters 1-3 of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (Richardson, 2010), and found it to be a bit dated. For example, on pg. 45, Richardson states that, "about 70 percent of homes will have broadband access by 2012" (Richardson, 2010). This information is not very helpful in 2013. However, there were many helpful suggestions about how to integrate blogging into education and what constitutes and does not constitute blogging. The distinctions were very helpful such as "Links with analysis and synthesis that articulate a deeper understanding or relationship to the content being linked and written with potential audience response in mind. (Read blogging.)" (Richardson, 2010, pg. 31). I also appreciated that this book included information from both NCEA and IRA standards. It is important that both students and teachers have a collaborative understanding of what includes good writing and blogging. This understanding, if explicitly taught, should aid students in substantive blogging. However, I felt as though I were reading an article in an education journal, and I'm not sure that this is the most informative book that we can read on this topic based on chapters 1-3.
--Jocelyn
Richardson, W., (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms, 3rd
edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE
Joceyln,
ReplyDeleteI wish that Richardson would revise this text. As you say, it is beginning to be dated; however, there's no substitute yet available that is nearly as comprehensive.
Dawn