Tessa on her way to catch a plane.

Michelle drops off Tessa at the airport.

Benefits of Blogware

Two benefits of blogware are that they are user-friendly and they can be accessed at any time.


Accessibility
Blogs work well for students because they can be worked on at virtually any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer. Hence, they can be used by computer savvy teachers to create a classroom that extends beyond the boundaries of the school yard.

User-Friendly Technology 
Fortunately for teachers, blogs are surprisingly easy to use. They require minimum technical knowledge and are quickly and easily created and maintained. Unlike many traditional Web sites, they are flexible in design and can be changed relatively easily. Best of all, students will find them convenient and accessible via home or library computers.

Educational Benefits of Blogs
In addition to providing teachers with an excellent tool for communicating with students, there are numerous educational benefits of blogs.
Blogs are:

• Highly motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms. 
• Excellent opportunities for students to read and write.
• Effective forums for collaboration and discussion.
• Powerful tools to enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur.

Available Technologies

Three technologies available to teachers and students at my school are:
the Smartboard, Multi-media Projectors and video cameras.
Many teachers use the Multi-media projector, but the Smartboard and video cameras are not often used. At present one of the main reasons persons do not use the Smartboard and video cameras is that they are not easily accessible.
I am comfortable using all three technologies to teach my lessons in my class, but I think that the video camera is the only one that I am a bit hesitant to use, as this seems to be the one that is the most easily damaged.

Enhancing Teaching and Learning
In an attempt to enhance teaching and learning I often utilise the Smartboard programme and the projector in almost all subject areas. From simply watching a video as part of a Set Induction to a lesson or a Powerpoint Presentation students are able to not only view, but listen to important information displayed.
By utilising the Smartboard programme all that is needed besides the projector and computer is a wireless mouse to allow students to interact with the information being projected without the physical Smartboard. Thus those students who learn by doing as well as the visual learners are all catered for.

It should be noted that the video camera can be used to aid in the creation of videos that are relevant to the children's experiences. Children are often more eager to watch a video if they see persons that they may be familiar with - like their teachers, fellow students or local personalities.

Design Decisions

Four design decisions that will need to be considered when building a teacher's blog are:

• Classroom Management: Class blogs can serve as a portal to foster a community of learners. As they are easy to create and update efficiently, they can be used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts, notices, and homework assignments, or act as a question and answer board. 

• Collaboration: Blogs provide a space where teachers and students can work to further develop writing or other skills with the advantage of an instant audience. Teachers can offer instructional tips, and students can practice and benefit from peer review. They also make online mentoring possible. For example, a class of older students can help a class of younger students develop more confidence in their writing skills. Students can also participate in cooperative learning activities that require them to relay research findings, ideas, or suggestions. 

• Discussions: A class blog opens the opportunity for students to discuss topics outside of the classroom. With a blog, every person has an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions. Students have time to be reactive to one another and reflective. Teachers can also bring together a group of knowledgeable individuals for a given unit of study for students to network and conference with on a blog. 

• Student Portfolios: Blogs present, organize, and protect student work as digital portfolios. As older entries are archived, developing skills and progress may be analyzed more conveniently. Additionally, as students realize their efforts will be published, they are typically more motivated to produce better writing. Teachers and peers may conference with a student individually on a developing work, and expert or peer mentoring advice can be easily kept for future reference.

Adding Links

Adding Links

I wanted to utilize this video   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6LEOehH4bQ
which may portray what the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) may look like in the future.
What do you think?
Let's all say adieu to our fellow collegue!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ajzG1CEs4A&feature=player

Blogging

What is it and how do you get started?
Blogging is just sharing your personal ideas about a topic in an electronic format to the general public. It appears to be quite simple once you follow the instructions set out by bloggers.com
If you are skeptical, try it for yourself and you will be amazed.


Two examples of blogware are:

• Personal Blog - which lets the world know what you think, and allows you to keep an online journal. It allows you to talk about your wedding, vacations, family, or anything else that interests you! 
• Photo Blog - Creates online photo albums, using the security feature, so only your family, friends and colleagues can view them and it allows for great weddings, parties and travel projects. 

http://home.blogware.com/faqs.html#2