Playtesting Assignment 1: Blogs

    In this first playtesting assignment, I explored several versions of blogging and vlogging in the context of playtesting the technology for use in education.

1. I started by testing several different blogging websites and formats. Blogging platforms such as Weebly, Wix and Wordpress were easy to access and sign up for, but included a lot of ads in the free platforms. I wasn't willing to pay for the upgraded versions, so I continued searching for other platforms. I also wanted to experiment with video blogging (or vlogging) which wasn't easily available via these platforms. 

2. I decided to move forward with the Google-based "Blogger" platform because it integrated with other Google products and allowed me to post blogs without ads. This affords the learner a cleaner and less distracting technology landscape without advertising. It also affords me the opportunity to incorporate files via my Google drive to enhance my blog posts and add depth and complexity to my blogging.

3. I further brainstormed how I might use blogging technology to support learning in Middle School Sciences. Blogging allows teachers and students to create and reflect on current content. 

    One example of how blogging could enhance instruction is by creating online lab notebooks within a flogging platform. This would be a substitution for physical lab notebooks. Students would have access to write and share data and analysis in real time. Teacher and other classmates could provide feedback, and resources such as hyperlinks could be utilized to draw connections to related research or additional data. A platform I've used to create online shared notebooks in the past has been Microsoft OneNote for Classrooms. As a teacher, I was able to create lab templates and share resources within the platform. Students were able to collect lab data and collaborate on their analyses. Both peer and teacher feedback can been given within OneNote. 

    Another example of how blogging could transform learning is creating platforms for students to post their own vlogs (or video blogs). Since my students' security and privacy is a high priority for me. I would likely use a site such as Flipgrid which allows me to create private class groups only accessible to my students. In one project, I asked students to conduct at-home egg drop tests, and video and report on the results. Students were then able to watch, comment on and discuss each other's designs. Eventually, we voted on our top designs and tested them with a high drop from the top of the science building.

4. Blogs are valuable tools for sharing insights and provided timely and interactive feedback, especially peer feedback. Blogs can be easily shared to provide examples of better or poorer quality work. In the context of younger-student education, I believe privacy is a major drawback to using public blogs. Technology resources that allow private or controlled-access blogging or vlogging (such as Flipgrid or OneNote) could be better solutions. Some schools have LMS capability that allow for student or teacher blogging within the protected system, however some do not. I think this is my most pressing concern in adopting blogging as a teaching technology within my curriculum.

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