Using Blogs as a classroom educational too can have some really great uses. I was able research online and easily find numerous websites that discuss the uses of blogs as educational tools. On the Pembina website they list five educational uses for blogs. They are: 1) can take place of a classroom website 2) teachers use the blogs to list internet sites 3) to organize classroom discussions 4) teachers may use them to organize and or summarize class lectures or discussions 5) students may be required to have their own blogs as a part of their class grade or assignment. These are all good suggestions for ways to use blogs to enhance student’s educational experience.
On another website I found out that, Blogs can provide a communication space that teachers can use with their students in order to develop writing, share ideas and or reflect on work being done in the classroom. It seems that blogs would be an excellent use of technology that can enhance, encourage and connect learning for all students at their level of learning. Sense we know that every generation is growing up with more and more technology in their lives it only makes sense to incorporate it into their education. I cannot see how it would hurt but only help in making education work for today’s technology driven students.
Thirdly, I found a website that stated;”In 1997 Jorn Barger coined the phrase Weblog to describe a site that combined links, commentaries, and personal thoughts and essays from the perspective of the Weblog author.” (Campus Technology website, 2008) To me this sounds like another way of getting all types of writing out to others to read. Some where I read that blogging is just online journalism. That really connected the whole idea of blogging for me, online journalism.
link
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/weblogs/
http://www.pembinatrails.ca/program/technology/uses_of_blogs_in_education.htm
http://campustechnology.com/articles/39247/
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5 comments:
With your districts hyper sensitivity to email about students, how would they respond to a classroom blog that was accessible by the public?
I agree that blogs are going to be a great resource for teachers/students. The challenge will be coming up with quality prompts to engage the students in discussions.
Shannon,
Excellent summary of the many uses of blogs in the classroom! I, too, believe it's a great way for students to write in a fun and engaging way! Now it's our challenge to make sure their sights are safe, and the students are using them with integrity and intelligence. Do your special ed students have blogs?
I like what you had to say, "To me this sounds like another way of getting all types of writing out to others to read. Some where I read that blogging is just online journalism. That really connected the whole idea of blogging for me, online journalism." I believe blogging could be a useful tool, but how does one monitor the use. Myspace could be a useful online tool as well, but it doesn't mean that it is. I have mixed feelings about this. One side of me says, "Hey, it the future, embrace it." The other side of me says, "You can't control this beast, kill it before it's too late."
I'm glad that you found a site stating that blogs are taking the place of class websites. I had this same idea when I was researching educational blogs. I've been wanting to set up a class website but I'm not sure where to begin. Blogs are easy to set up and easy to use. I do, however, agree with Brian's comment about the classroom blog being accessible to the public. This could pose a problem and it's definitely something to think about.
Shannon,
Wow, you found several good resources about blogging! Do you feel blogging would be benefitial as a special education teacher? I think blogging is a tool that would come naturally to students and would be useful in so many ways, especially for shy students.
Do you currently us blogs in your classroom?
Jen
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