Using Weblogs in Foreign Language Classroom: Possibility and
Challenges
Using Weblogs in Foreign Language Classroom:
(reference:
https://mind42.com/public/3ba902c9-689f-4acf-84dd-1c7a90809202)
The web 2.0 is
developed from web 1.0 the web 2.0 is created for interactive information such
as weblog, wikis, and social network. It
also is recognized to have great potential for effective teaching and learning
foreign language.
theoretical justification of using Web 2.0
pedagogy has
shifted from a cognitive orientation to a social orientation, from context to
naturalistic setting, and L2 learning to L2 use. Together with these changes,
concepts such as input, interaction, authenticity, and collaboration are
recognized as critical factors to determine successful foreign language
learning.
Web 1.0 which
is characterized as non-participatory, static, read-only entity. In contrast,
Web 2.0 technologies provide environments where users can communicate and
collaborate in active manners. Thus, web 2.0 technologies provide language
learners with the potential for a collaboration-oriented and community-based
learning environment. The weblogs are best received in field of education in
general and foreign language education owing to their unique features.
Characteristics of weblogs
Weblogs is
defined as free user-friendly websites that are easily created, maintained, and
updated without any knowledge of HTML, offer huge possibilities for innovative
learning in classrooms, across disciplines and in various levels.
3.1.
Weblogs vs other Asynchronous Web-based commutation tool
weblogs
share some similar features with other asynchronous communicative applications
such as email, discussion forums, and web pages. The weblogs can be viewed by
anyone on the web. Weblogs are also different from discussion forums in that
they are individually or group owned. Weblogs can easily include hyperlinks,
images and video clips while the forum mainly consists of plain texts or
attached files.
3.2. Unique
Features of Weblogs
Individual ownership: it is responsible for publishing the blog content,
moderating readers’ comments, deciding the rights of the readers, and
customizing the look and feel of the blog.
Updates displayed in reverse chronological order: blog, there are
chronological order of the post places the latest posting at the top of the
page. In the other hand, Older posts appear further down the latest post. This
systematic makes it possible for users to access the latest posting immediately
when logging on the blogs.
Archival of postings: Weblogs
auto-archived older posts. It will show only recent post but the reader can get
the older post by clicking a hyperlink or permalink
These unique
features of weblogs have various characters that attract language
educators and the posting.
Relevance: Weblogs allow teachers and learners to upload
content relevant to their courses and promote student-teacher, student-student,
and student-others interactions about the postings.
Accessibility: Weblogs are accessible to whoever is interested in making
contributions in a relatively long period of time without moving physically or
attending face-to-face classes
Interactivity: Weblogs can be accessible to other blogs through a list
of links to selected blogs, or an RSS feed enables bloggers to subscribe to
other blogs and monitor their activities.
Interest: Weblogs give students equal chances to participate.
These characteristics of weblogs not only facilitate
exchanging information and expanding communication but also provide learners
with possibilities to enhance their language learning.
Using Weblogs in Foreign Language Classroom
We use
weblogs in foreign language classroom as three means: the tutor blog, the
learner weblog, and the class weblog. Campbell (2003)
Three Weblog types
Type of weblog
Characteristics
Tutor
administered by the instructor
encouraged learners to do reading practice and explore links
for self-study
Class
administered by the entire class
encourages learners to post messages, images and links
pertinent to classroom discussion topics
Learner
administered by the learner
encourages individual learners to post their thoughts about
the reading
4.1. Possibility and
Challenges of Tutor Weblog
A tutor
weblog can have possible three functions:
o It can function as a pace through which
teacher provide learner.
o It can function as platform to help learner
explore the web resources in a guided manner.
o It can use to allow learners to express
their idea and opinion.
4.2 Possibilities and
Challenge of learner blogger
A learner
blogger is used for online journal that an individual can update with his or
her words, ideas, and thought.
4.3. Possibilities and Challenge of Class weblogs
Class weblog can
be best used as a collaborative discussion space, an extra-curricular extension
of the classroom, encouraging students to reflect more in depth on the topics dealt
with in class. In addition, class blog can be useful for facilitating project
based language learning. Furthermore, class blogs can serve as a medium for
cultural exchange through writing. Learners can interact with people in other
countries if the situation permits. Though this interaction, learners can
practice their foreign language skills as well as acquire intercultural
awareness. Participation in an authentic use of the target language for real
communication.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Weblog
o Advantages of
Using Weblog
o Weblogs provide an authentic learning
environment for real communication.
o Weblogs function as online learning logs
where learners record their learning experience. For teachers, this function can
be used as e-polio that record learners’ progress and encourage learners to
reflect on their learning experience.
Weblogs enable learners to create social networks and
learning communities, so this collaboration can motivate learners to improve
their writing skills
With these
advantages, the multi-media features of weblogs enable language learners to
improve all of language’s skill because audio and video blogs can provide
listening material together with cultural aspects related to the target language
country. Weblogs integrated in foreign language classes are reported to provide
the learners with a practicing environment where learners can think, write, and
reflect through interaction with their instructor and peers, and as a result
can enhance their writing skills.
Using weblog in foreign language classroom:
o enhances reading comprehension, improves
students’ writing skills and abilities.
o develops writing and learning strategies.
o has a positive impact on the content and
increases the amount of writing of learners?
o makes students pay close attention to the
formal aspects of writing, both in terms of word choice, structure, and word
spelling, attending to sentence and paragraph structure as well as adapting
academic style, register and appropriate word.
o provide the student’s opportunity to write
freely without being judged for their grammatical mistakes.
o develops ideas and provide feedback for the
authors.
o enhances student analytical and critical
thinking skills.
o increases student motivation in reading and
writing, promotes learner independence and autonomy, and enhances students’
analytical and critical thinking skills.
o disadvantages of
Using Weblog
o students with low English proficiency may
experience difficulty in putting their ideas in order.
o students lack confidence in their writing
ability
These problems
suggest that the instructor should take a more active role in assisting
students during the blogging. On the other hand, it is difficult to keep
students’ interest in blog-based tasks. Thus, teachers guided learners to form
the habit of using them for weblogs to work best:
o Teachers should respond to students’ posting
quickly, asking questions about their postings to stimulate them to keep
writing.
o Students should be actively encouraged to
read and respond to their peers.
o Writing to the blog could be required as
part of the class assessment.
ความคิดเห็น
แสดงความคิดเห็น