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Task: The Web 2.0 in the Classroom Blog lists 33 ways on how to use blogs in education. Please select one way or describe a new one which you like best and connect it to any educational theory.
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I particularly liked the idea to create a simulated presidential blog, although I would only do this in Sixth Form and probably change it to simulating election years, so that there are two blogs for the important candidates, as I think there would be more of a chance of students actually participating and discussing the topics if there are two opposed sites. I would then alternate homework assignments, so that every student would at least once have to come up with a candidate’s statement to put on one of the blogs, and afterwards have the rest comment on the statements of either candidate.
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That way, several aspects of the constructivist theories are integrated in this project. First of all, by coming up with opinions for two different, albeit fictional, presidential candidates gives students the chance to think about what they would like to hear from politicians. They are likely to make one of them the baddie, but that does not in the slightest diminish the effect this project could have: Students can develop their own ideas of what they expect from politicians, and after having constructed their political ideals they can compare these to existing politicans, thus starting Piaget’s process of assimilation and accomodation.
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In addition, Dewey’s idea of experience is taken into account in this project, as cultural learning is embedded in it. Even though the students have to come up with their own statements, they would have to think about real issues to do so, and of course of the cultural background of the fictitious candidate. For example, when doing this for the US presidential elections, you would argue differently than when simulating the campaigning for the UK’s Prime Minister’s post. In fact, the issues the students would be writing on would differ extremely depending on the country you choose, and this obviously also applies to the discusions, not only the candidates’ statements.
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