What I learned
About my initial research questions
About my initial research questions
• that adding an aspect of web 2.0 (the read-write web) to an educational resource can help users to discuss and share their experiences.
• that people can and will collaborate across geographic and educational boundaries via the 'read-write web'.
• that far more people visit the resource than leave comments
• that some of those who do leave comments are becoming regular visitors and comment on new posts.
• that even a small scale resource provider can use free web based services to enhance their provision of resources
• that there is a demand for a blog about Classroom Displays
• that it can continue to grow and become a more valuable resource
• that people can and will collaborate across geographic and educational boundaries via the 'read-write web'.
• that far more people visit the resource than leave comments
• that some of those who do leave comments are becoming regular visitors and comment on new posts.
• that even a small scale resource provider can use free web based services to enhance their provision of resources
• that there is a demand for a blog about Classroom Displays
• that it can continue to grow and become a more valuable resource
About emergent questions
• that teaching assistants can act across geographic boundaries to make things happen that enhance the educational experience of the children in their school.
• that a community can quickly form on-line around a piece of software.
• that a totally self-organised on-line community can start to function as a community of practice, without intervention from outside agencies.
• that a community can quickly form on-line around a piece of software.
• that a totally self-organised on-line community can start to function as a community of practice, without intervention from outside agencies.
Negative Findings
• Time constraints put a massive burden on school staff's use of the internet as a learning resource.
• The smart filter adds to this by blocking potentially useful sites even from the password protected staff room computer. This means these sites are not available during teacher's PPA time.
• The smart filter adds to this by blocking potentially useful sites even from the password protected staff room computer. This means these sites are not available during teacher's PPA time.
For the future
I used the Classroom Displays Blog to start to explore the potential of web 2.0 for education professionals. I will continue to develop the blog and use action research to improve my practice as a resource provider.
I could have chosen to focus my research on the provision of a wiki for the school. In order to explore the possibilities of that I have registered for a wikispaces wiki for the school. This will form part of the on-going research.
I will continue to try to get the Classroom Displays blog and the Ridge Primary Wiki unblocked at school.
I could have chosen to focus my research on the provision of a wiki for the school. In order to explore the possibilities of that I have registered for a wikispaces wiki for the school. This will form part of the on-going research.
I will continue to try to get the Classroom Displays blog and the Ridge Primary Wiki unblocked at school.