Blogging allows students to share information with the world. Blogs can be used to record information and can be updated daily or even multiple times a day. Students can record information as they work on a project and can be reviewed from anywhere once the posting has been put online. Links to other web pages can also be added to the blog. Being able to connect ideas and resources via linking is one of blogging’s most important strengths (Richardson, 2010, p. 19).
Some of my current students have mentioned that they blog everyday at home. They use blogging as a form of expression. Students can practice writing skills and write creatively when blogging. Knowing the information posted on blogs is shared with everyone, students may be more careful to correct mistakes when submitting written work.
When interacting online, Egbert (2009) agrees the safety of the students should also be considered. Allowing students to blog freely on the internet may open up the possibility for inappropriate interaction with the student. At my school, teachers are able to create blog assignments for the students using Moodle where the teacher can monitor postings and create the groups in which students will be interacting. I have not used this tool with my students at this point in time, but I am looking for opportunities to apply blogging in my mathematics classroom.
References:
Egbert, J. (2009). Supporting learning with technology: Essentials of classroom practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education
Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms, 3rd. ed.. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Posts
Dear Gayle,
ReplyDeleteI agree that "Allowing students to blog freely on the internet may open up the possibility for inappropriate interaction with the student." That is one of the main reasons I am not comfortable with using blogging in my classroom. Moodle is a great way to maintain a safe environment for the students. I look forward to setting up a Moodle site for my students and starting to blog.
Gayle,
ReplyDeleteBlogging safety seems to be a topic that we are all concerned about! I still think that it is a very important and successful learning tool when used correctly and safely. You made some valid points about how blogging is used for expression and to practice writing skills. I think many educators forget about the positives associated with blogging and sometimes dwell on the negative aspects and therefore shy away from using it. Do you have any suggestions on how we can reassure fellow educators that blogs, as long as used appropriately, provide many valuable learning opportunities?
Bethany
Bethany,
ReplyDeleteI think the best way to get teachers to use different tools in their classrooms is to show them how and where the tools would be appropriate. Teachers, like students, need examples of where they will use this information. Teachers need to see examples of projects and time to adapt the technology to fit their needs.
Darlene,
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your Moodle site!