To Blog or Not to Blog in the Classroom?

After reading the two articles "Giving a Reluctant Student a Voice" and "Teddy Bears go Blogging" and looking through the PowerPoint on blogging I can see why many people are turning to blogging.  I was not to get the video to play however, just by reading and using the other sources I can see how students would be more engaged and willing to participate through blogging.  I agreed in the one article when it stated that sometimes it takes time to get your thoughts together and figure out what you want to say, and once you are there the class already moved on.  This has personally happened to me many times, and I never really thought about my students feeling the same way.  I would try anything to keep my students active in my classroom and I think blogging would be a great idea.  My only concern is that not all my students have access to computers at home and I would need to be able to adapt my lessons like in "Teddy Bears go Blogging" were it is one classroom weblog and they could add to it on our computer lab days. 

S Mongerson

I am absolutely pro blogging in the classroom.  From my own personal experience, my students blog almost every day in class.  I use the program Kids Blog so that it is private and no one outside our class can read the blogs.  My number one priority for my students is privacy.  We blog about what we are learning in each subject, summarizing books, and writing topics I give them.  As written in the article "Blog on" students can respond to each other.  I liked the idea of writing words students do not know and having others respond to it.  I believe that sharing ideas and understandings deepens the understandings of students.

To Blog ... is connecting

M Smith ECOMP 5004 A#3
I am not an avid user of blogs myself, but in the article Blog-on by Catherine Poling, the uses of blogging for updating staff, collaboration between teachers and students, and having the ability for students to add to discussions without peer pressure appear to be just a few uses for this tool. I think I would start with using it as a online homework portal, then expand to collaborative assignments as my students grew used to the tool. What an easy way for students to publish their work, in a safe space.

To Blog or Not to Blog - Geordie Mitchell

The resources for this posting are certainly not impartial, but do provide ample evidence in support of blogging.  To me, the idea that blogging extends the conversation outside of the classroom is the most compelling argument. In this way, students have the chance to think about concepts and ideas and to reflect on what transpired in class before responding.  They also have time to reflect on what other classmates have written and the time to carefully craft a response that says exactly what they want it to say. It is this extension of the conversation that has contributed to the flipped classroom idea. There are many other important reasons to consider blogging from a pedagogical standpoint including student engagement and the ability to learn how to offer and accept feedback.  However, the reasons that resonate most with me have to do with learning style.  Students who are quiet, students who need to think before responding, and students who prefer to express themselves with other media all can be well-served by a blog.

Given the partiality of the readings, what are the downsides?  Time seems to be a big one.  With more writing (which would be the sign of a successful endeavor in language arts) comes more work for the teacher.  Given the nature of a blog, the teacher is likely not only to have to read more writing, but students expect more comments and feedback.  Blogging will also demand more classroom time, at least at start up, as students need to be trained how to use the technology and how to offer constructive comments.  Another real concern is access.  Is your school set up to provide access?  Even if it is, it might be dangerous to assume that all students have access from home?  If not, some students will be at a significant disadvantage if blog posts are part of the assessment unless time is allotted in class.  Even then, it is not an even playing field unless the blog is restricted after hours.

The benefits of blogs far outweigh the disadvantages except for equal access for all students.  Without it, certain students will be disadvantaged.  

Blog Away!

Our class began a blog last year chronicling our garden project. The kids brainstormed what should be included, typed and uploaded the entries, added pictures, and shared it with their parents and relatives.

This year, they will continue the garden blog and add a second, which will be about our class guinea pig, Mo.

I had a chance to see Will Richardson speak at a conference last year, and even had the opportunity to walk the streets of Detroit with him (not stalker style) at the end of the day. What is so striking about his message is its simplicity: get technology into the hands of students. I like his statement about tech being the grammar of their lives, and see first hand how kids enjoy being part of what's published out their on the Internet.

It’s so simple to start a class blog. The kids have done all maintenance and remind me if too much time has gone by between posts. My favorite part about the blog is seeing how they put into practice all they’ve learned about writing. We do word study mini-lessons 3-4 times a week, and so many of these have popped up in their written descriptions of the garden. I’m looking forward to seeing what a class can do with a blog that starts in the fall.

To Blog or Not To Blog...

As I consider using a blog in my classroom, my initial reaction is to be concerned about hosting a classroom blog and the need to monitor it closely.  Our school is very strict about communicating with students outside of the school.  All blog sites are blocked via our firewall and we have had to sign an agreement indicating that we don't communicate with students electronically during their school years and up to 2 years after graduation (except via our SAU email address).  In addition to our school requirements, other worries which crossed my mind are - Will students take it seriously?  Will they be kind to one another on the blog?  Will it create problems?  Will I have the stamina to keep it going as we move along in the curriculum?

After reading the articles and thinking about various uses of a blog in my class, I feel this could be a good tool to use.  Several advantages to use a class blog are:

1.  Students will enjoy it because it matters.  The work is viewed by their peers – they will feel the peer pressure of doing a good job because others will view it.  I expect that they would want to get it “right”.  By communicating by writing, this provides additional practice.  I am not an English/Language Arts instructor, but believe firmly that we need to write often to improve.  Lastly, if their work is missing, it will be noticed by the group.
2. The blog can serve as a reference tool.  Students have the opportunity to look up previous information and refer to it as needed. In addition, students are able to assist each other in their learning.  Students may have a different explanation or method that may make sense to someone else. 
3.  A sense of community should develop by encouraging everyone to participate and communicate in a way that they are pretty familiar with already (texting) in public view. 
4.  Reduce repeated questions via email.   I am always available to students via email for questions, comments, etc.  I think it would be more efficient to use a blog for questions and discussions because it may eliminate the need for duplicated emails.
5. I can see where this will engage learners and also provide a space for “Reluctant Learners” who just need additional time to process a class discussion and would like to contribute later on – or to seek answers to questions which arise from the day.  

My opinion about blogging is that it definitely can be a positive experience for my students.  As long as students are responsible with it, I see this as a wonderful learning opportunity for them in many ways.

A.Shepler - To Blog or Not To Blog?

To Blog or Not to Blog?

            Before completing the readings this week, I, like several others in the class, had not considered using a blog for my classroom. However, I think my opinion may have changed this week. I like the idea of having a blog as a living document for my classroom. Students can read for information and contribute to the class "discussion" and then refer back to the blog in the future in case they forget information. Students who are not physically in class can also benefit from blogs because they can contribute from home, the hospital or wherever they happen to be.
            I also had not considered using a blog for teacher collaboration. I like the idea of having a technology blog for teachers like the elementary school in MD. Every teacher in the building doesn't have the same planning and sometimes meeting after school can be difficult given everyone's busy schedule. Having a blog where teachers can contribute information at their leisure is a great way to bounce ideas off each other and learn new techniques!