Jo set herself some challenges with her Teachnet projects this year ... not only did she wish to bring her English and Media teaching into the world of Web 2.0 but she also wanted to change the way in which her subjects were studied.

And so she went about researching the use of blogs by other teachers and set up two for her A level students.

Teen Movies for A Level Media Studies

The aim of the blog is to help students complete an online portfolio containing their own videos and associated research into the teen movie genre and their target audiences.

Each individual page within the blog equates to an element within the coursework portfolio. The blog will help demonstrate how web 2.0 tools can be used effectively for learning and teaching, and provide an exemplar for students seeking to create their own blogs and online learning journals/portfolios. Students can access the resource remotely and will be able to support each other by commenting constructively on each other's blogs.

Beloved

This blog for A level English Literature comprises worksheets and activities around the study of Toni Morrison's novel, Beloved.

Jo's ultimate vision for her students is that they feel inspired to set up their own blogs for their study of the novel and allow others to comment on their blog entries - in this way, students can engage with alternative views which is an an important Assessment Objective requiring a development of their confidence levels. When described like this, the blog can be though of as an 'on-line book club' breathing life into those who are reticent to share their views and enter into face-to-face debates.

Says Jo ..

"I have been participating in this programme for a few years now and thanks to Teachnet, I have advanced my own teaching and my own technological understanding by entering the world of web 2.0; this has really inspired my teaching and taken it to the next level.  In terms of professional development, Teachnet has proved to be great!"