To Blog or Not to Blog - Is this really our question?

Blogging is a way for someone to be able to journal about their lives or for the purpose of sharing their skills such as writing, cooking, gardening, political opinions, parenting advice, views or just information about a topic. Blogging has become a way of having a larger audience to listen to what you have to say. No more talking to yourself in the car or shower, or telling someone something you are so excited about and they could care less. Now there is someone to listen to you at all times. And if you don’t want to be the one to create the blog, you can find blogs for almost any topic of interest. Just voice your opinion and move on. Or wait to receive feedback on your thoughts and ideas. Blogs are an extension of world of communications and at times validation of whom and what we are.

Does this scare you away from the idea of using blogs in the classroom? Think of it this way, Blogs can become a resource in the classroom where students can find information or respond to comments, ideas, or thoughts related to a topic. A blog used as a resource in a classroom can be a way for students to communicate with a professional outside of their classroom environment. Students can now learn from their world around them through blogs. For a teacher, the ideas for creating lessons around blogs are endless. And for each content area there are numerous blogs that can help to enhance a lesson. 

Some examples; 

  math http://www.dreambox.com/blog 

 

Science http://scienceblog.com/ ; 

Or you can find a site that has a list of blogs to use such as this one for students to present their written work and get feedback from it http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-25-creative-writing-blogs-for-students/.   

These are just a couple of the thousands that may or may not work in your classroom. As a teacher you need to do the research on the blog that is appropriate for your content area and topic of discussion. But rest assure, I am sure you can find the right fit. Blogs help teachers think beyond the four walls.

The benefits of using blogs within a curriculum are numerous. Just getting students to write and enjoy it is a challenge. Bring in technology and blogs and you begin to speak their language. The majority of students are interested in engaging in writing when they participate in blogs. Blogs help students enhance their writing skills. If you are teaching secondary, pose questions that help them to answer the questions on their state-wide exams (CAPT), open-ended questions. Have students work on supporting their thoughts and answers to the question. Then, as I do for my class, have students evaluate their own work by creating a blog rubric for them to follow. Take it one step further and have student evaluate the work of their peers so that they can learn from each other and recognize their strengths or areas that need improvement.  

Watch this video made by a 10th grade communication technology class that captured comments from other students on why blogging in the classroom works. Enjoy the comments straight from the students........

 

Using blogs in the classroom should be embraced by teachers of any grade level or learning level. What makes you apprehensive about using a blog in your classroom? Are you using a blog? If you are, how are you using a blog in your classroom? How are the students interacting with the blog? What results are you see from the use of blogs in your classroom?