Table 1: Technical features, affordances and pedagogy – analysis of technology

Features of the technology Affordances (activities and practice) Affordances (examples of pedagogy and

designs)

Format is chronological journal, Supports developmental thinking and

reflection.

Researching: When learners research, they construct their learning chronologically and sequentially. They are able to return to old ideas, edit them, copy and paste, and add to them. The digital record of learning allows the viewer insight into the thinking processes of the learner. It supports the learner’s own metacognition as they trace their own learning process through reflection. Individualism: Individual learning pathways are supported in an environment that may be scaffolded by the teacher, but is owned by the learner. If learning outcomes are open-ended, the learner can …..

Access is individual sign on

Individual control and ownership of the blog.

However, groups are able to share login

details.

Can be accessed anywhere, anytime Ubiquitous access – even from mobile

devices. Independent of device.

Comments can be added by reader and blog

owner

Supports critical thinking, conversation,

collaboration and interaction.

Content can be text, video, images. Supports multimodal learning and higher

order thinking, also creativity

HTML tab supports embedding code

Artefacts, stored across the web in

repositories, can be drawn together and

presented in a single location.

Posts can be archived and retrieved Information is always available, and never

lost.

Posts can be edited and updated Supports ongoing reflection and improvement

as new ideas and thinking are added to old

Post can be tagged, and searched by tags Easy recovery of archived ideas.

Readers can ‘follow’ blog

Supports peer and community engagement,

and negotiation of ideas, thus higher order

thinking.

Layout and format is flexible Supports individual preferences and creativity.

Allows a sense of ownership.

WYSIWYG editor makes blogging easy Supports learners at all levels of technical

expertise.

Blogs can be publicly accessible and come Access to a broader audience and subsequent

up on a Google search networking opportunities