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Have you thought about using a blog in your classroom but have not convinced it is appropriate? Blogs can be used in the classroom in the K-12 setting. I teach first grade and have not thought about using blogs however now that I have learned more about why to use blogs it sounds like a great thing to think about for future use in the classroom.
Blogs can be used across the curriculum or in one subject area. The great things about blogs is that the audience is expanded outside the classroom walls. The students will realize that they are writing for an audience that is much larger than the peers in their classroom. This will motivate students to use their best writing skills to communicate. Will Richardson in the textbook Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms says that blogs are like a log that students are able to look back at old posts that they have posted or responded to. The students can then reflect on those posts and it will give the students a deeper understanding of the content they are responsible for learning. (pg 27)
There are other reasons teachers should consider using blogs within the classroom. Many learning styles can be reached through a blog. Students can be commenting on posts like they would comment in class. However there may be a student that is too shy to speak in class but will comment on the blog. Everyone is able to participate in the discussion. (Richardson, p.27)
Lastly, the technology is not going to go away in our society. Students need to learn how to communicate through technology. If this is engaging for students and they love to write on the web why not let them complete discussions and homework on a blog?
Richardson, Will (2010) Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Corwin A sage company.
The classroom is such a social atmosphere, catering to extroverted students. I'm not surprised at all to read about shy students greatly benefiting from blogs. In fact, I wish I had access to some type of academic blogging as a child, since I was one of those students who would never raise her hand but always had something to say. Here I am in online classes though, raising my virtual hand all the time =)
ReplyDeleteThe greatest benefit, I think, is what you mentioned early in your post about having the time to reflect. Many of the students we call on in class that cannot formulate answers on the spot would find much better success reflecting on a post in their own time and then writing a well thought out response without social pressure.
Sometimes I wonder if an introvert invented the Internet!
As I read through the reading, I kept wondering how I could have used blogs. I know that they would have been a great tool for parents to communicate with me but I started to wonder about how the students would benefit. I would have loved to do video blogging with the students. They were always so good at responding about topics or comparing stories that it would have been fun to open up our conversation to the rest of the school.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Catherine also, that blogging is a good way to communicate with the class without having to talk in class. I often times would not ask what was on my mind in class. Finally I trained myself that I had to start asking because there were other students doing the same thing as me, not asking. We as students not only learn from our teachers but our peers as well. Blogging would have opened up a whole new set of ideas for all the students that do not like to speak in front of others. We could have heard their voice through blogging and probably had some great doubts about topics we never thought about.
I really like the idea of using blogs in the classroom. Although I have never entertained the thought of it before, I can see how useful a tool like this could be. So many educational and collaborative doors can open with the use of a Weblog. Classroom assignments can be posted for those that were absent from class or left their work at school. Parents can see what is going on (if permitted) and help to stay on top of the kids at home. Interest from the community may grow, providing more support for the school. Students can develop critical thinking skills in new ways, which more closely model what they will run into in the real world.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we may not exactly like it, everything in this world is going digital. Our classrooms and teaching styles must adapt to this and cater to the needs of our youngsters. We too must teach our students in the digital world.
I love your comments about the ease of sharing as a student within the weblog platform. Many students have so much to offer, but they feel uncomfortable sharing in front of 30 other students. I agree that the blog tool can be utilized to see just what students think about different topics. While learning to voice opinions vocally is an important skill to learn, this is just a different way to get thoughts across.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your posting. I have developed a blog in a previous course. It was designed to showcase the work as a student. We entered in the assignment and published it to the class. This gave us more incentive to do our best. We also learned from each others progress and ideas. I directly see the impact of this type of technology usage for student learning and teaching. It will only enhance the learning and drive of the learner.
ReplyDeleteI agree that blogs really give students the opportunity to communicate outside of the walls of the classroom. It is such a powerful tool in the fact that it truly gives students a voice. I also think you are right when you mentioned it would help bring forward some of their best writing because it is out there for the world to see! Blogs can be used in so many different ways and it sounds like you have a few ideas for you classroom. I do not however feel that blogs should be a primary way of communicating within the classroom. I feel children, in today's society, have lost touch with reality and lack essential skills in communicating to their peers.
ReplyDeleteI like the reflection part of your post. When students can go back and follow their thought process through a string of posts, they may gain insight to their own learning process and get a deeper understanding of the concept being taught. I also believe that a blog would give students who don't normally speak out in class and opportunity to voice their opinions or concerns. I often get e-mails from students who say they don't understand something, yet they do not ask in class while the lesson is being taught. When I see these e-mails, I wonder how many more students have the same questions. A blog would probably be a good way to address these situations.
ReplyDelete