Abstract

Reflection and professional development are two key practices that characterize an effective teacher and that are frequently overlooked in preservice training (Bowles, 2003; Halen-Faber, 1997; Patrick & Reinhartz, 1999). Reflection can be defined as the type of thinking that serves to challenge notions of prior learning (Halen-Faber, 1997), and professional development can be defined as the actions teachers take to improve the quality of their teacher practices and knowledge. Several technologies and methods have been utilized to assist teachers in reflecting and becoming involved in professional development. Two newer technologies used for these purposes are blogs and RSS feeds. In this paper, the authors first describe some of the ways that instructors are using blogs, and then describe their experiences using blogs and RSS feeds with undergraduate preservice teachers in order to facilitate their learning, as well as provide them with a tool they could use as teachers. They discuss what did work, what did not work, and how they would change their approach in the future to be more successful. The intent of this paper is to share ideas that will help others who are interested in blogs or trying to use blogs in their own classes. (Contains 1 figure.)

Citation

West, R.E., Wright, G., Gabbitas, B. & Graham, C.R. (2006). Reflections from the Introduction of Blogs and RSS Feeds into a Preservice Instructional Technology Course. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 50(4), 54-60. Retrieved August 6, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/65716/.

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Keywords

• computer mediated communication
• Computer Uses in Education
• educational technology
• Group Discussion
• higher education
• Instructional Effectiveness
• Instructional Innovation
• internet
• Methods Courses
• Participant Satisfaction
• preservice teacher education
• preservice teachers
• Problems
• professional development
• Program Implementation
• Reflective Teaching
• student attitudes
• Student Surveys
• Teacher Improvement
• teaching methods
• Web Sites