ICT PD facilitator Tessa Gray has collated thoughts from the ICT PD project about the ways in which the key competencies can align with e-learning practices online, such as writing a blog.
Managing Self
Establishing personal goals
Planning work
Setting high standards
Acting appropriately in a range of settings
Becoming aware of own actions and the effect of words on others
Setting high self-expectations
Developing a range of strategies to become a successful learner
Making well-informed choices
This could be supported by:
Using blogs as a form of e-portfolio with goal setting
Cataloging ideas and resources within a blog by using tags
Subscribing to blogs through RSS feeds
Using a blog to work through a problem or research question
Establishing blog 'etiquette' - understanding that what is said in a digital environment affects real people.
Relating to Others
Interacting with a diverse group of people
Interacting in a variety of contexts
Being an active listener
Recognising different viewpoints
Negotiating and sharing ideas
Being more open to new learning
Cooperating in team situations
This could be supported by:
Forging connections between home and school through publishing and dialogue on a blog
Being aware of different audiences for different types of blogs, and how to behave appropriately in each
Gaining understanding of the power of the network when blogging and finding like-minded people and non-like minded people
Using blogs as sounding boards - leveraging the wisdom of the group and leveraging the wisdom of the individual
Learning how to give constructive feedback through comments.
Participating and Contributing
Being aware of local/national/global communities
Understanding the purpose of these communities
Responding appropriately in a group situation
Making connections with others
Taking on a range of roles
Displaying an awareness of local, national, and global issues
Being actively involved in community issues
Understanding the importance of balancing rights, roles, and responsibilities
Making decisions
Contributing to social, physical, and economic environments
This could be supported by:
Becoming 'part of the conversation' - reading and commenting on other blogs; finding out how to connect with interesting blogs
Understanding the benefits of 'getting your ideas out there' - how this enriches your own teaching/learning
The power of creating content and getting feedback on this from a global audience
Collaborating with blogging projects between students/classes.
Thinking
Being intellectually curious
Taking risks with learning
Actively seeking new knowledge
Using critical/creative/metacognitive thinking strategies
Making decisions
Reflecting on own thinking/asking questions
Challenging perceptions and assumptions
This could be supported by:
Reflecting on the teaching and learning within the classroom or learning environment
Challenging ideas and refining own thoughts around education in the process
Effectively summarising the key lessons learned and saying how this impacts on their own learning (learning logs)
Beginning to understand multiple perspectives and the importance of individual voice
Using Language, Symbols, and Texts
Interpreting and using words, numbers, images, movement, metaphor, and technologies in a range of contexts
Understanding how people respond to communication
Using ICT confidently
Exploring a range of literacies to communicate within a blog, for example, multimedia.
This could be supported by:
Using hyperlinks to add extra layers and depth to a blog
Learning how to write a post that communicates the message clearly and appropriately
Looking at other ways to communicate a message other than text