Blogging can be a good, non-traditional way of engaging students. In today's highly computerized world, simple pen and paper tasks seem dull and dated. On top of that, many children are very computer literate, thus working with technology actually can help the students feel more comfortable by letting them use tools that they are familiar with.
Steven Wheeler gave seven reasons why teachers should blog and they are quite compelling. Reasons #1, "Blogging causes you to reflect" & #2, "Blogging can crystalise your thinking" are effective arguments for languaging, or using language to talk about language. This, of course, applies to other fields. By putting something into language we can get a better grasp of it. We can talk to someone, but it may be hard to find someone interested in a highly specialized field, thus blogging gives us the option to, technically, just talk to the whole web-viewing world. No one specific is addressed until comments and discussions arise, though the act of a blog post is useful for the author just by itself.
The remaining reasons...
#3, Blogging can open up new audiences.
#4, Blogging can create personal momentum.
#5, Blogging can give you valuable feedback.
#6, Blogging can be creative.
#7, Blogging can raise your game.
...provide good arguments for how blogging can develop the author and their own expertise and even reputation. Blogs have their limits, but their framework may be used to great effect.
This brings us to the classroom setting, where today's tech-savvy students are very much familiar with the constraints and possibilities of computers, primarily through the popularity of social media and gaming, however this know-how may be reined in to add pizzazz to the students' educational experience. Some of the Performance Indicators from nylearns.org strongly indicate a learning cyber-realm that is possible to build by structuring a class to include an active blogging element.
1) ESL.E.2-4.4.1.1
Students use a variety of oral, print, and electronic forms for social communication and for writing to or for self, applying the conventions of social writing.
ESL.E.2-4.4.1.1.MI
Forms such as friendly notes, invitations, electronic messages, diary entries, and notes to self.
2) ESL.E.2-4.4.1.2
Students describe, read about, participate in or recommend a favorite activity, book, song, or other interest to various audiences.
ESL.E.2-4.4.1.2.MI
Audiences such as peers, classes, teachers, and other adults.
Students, as well as teachers, transitioning to a high tech class, may need some guidance in adapting to the new setting, however a class in computer lab with lessons structured around some of the above listed activities is hardly science fiction at this point in the developed world.
The computerized classroom can also involve parents more closely to their child's education since the computer classroom could be accessed from home, as well. Rita Zeinstejer made a short list with a case for blogging:
Why Blogging?
Because they allow us to...
The rest of the article furthers the case for blogging as a professional and as a student. Afterall, the computers themselves can only be valued by the content they produce.
And long, long ago... Prometheus's gift of fire was only as important as the soup it cooked.
Steven Wheeler gave seven reasons why teachers should blog and they are quite compelling. Reasons #1, "Blogging causes you to reflect" & #2, "Blogging can crystalise your thinking" are effective arguments for languaging, or using language to talk about language. This, of course, applies to other fields. By putting something into language we can get a better grasp of it. We can talk to someone, but it may be hard to find someone interested in a highly specialized field, thus blogging gives us the option to, technically, just talk to the whole web-viewing world. No one specific is addressed until comments and discussions arise, though the act of a blog post is useful for the author just by itself.
The remaining reasons...
#3, Blogging can open up new audiences.
#4, Blogging can create personal momentum.
#5, Blogging can give you valuable feedback.
#6, Blogging can be creative.
#7, Blogging can raise your game.
...provide good arguments for how blogging can develop the author and their own expertise and even reputation. Blogs have their limits, but their framework may be used to great effect.
This brings us to the classroom setting, where today's tech-savvy students are very much familiar with the constraints and possibilities of computers, primarily through the popularity of social media and gaming, however this know-how may be reined in to add pizzazz to the students' educational experience. Some of the Performance Indicators from nylearns.org strongly indicate a learning cyber-realm that is possible to build by structuring a class to include an active blogging element.
1) ESL.E.2-4.4.1.1
Students use a variety of oral, print, and electronic forms for social communication and for writing to or for self, applying the conventions of social writing.
ESL.E.2-4.4.1.1.MI
Forms such as friendly notes, invitations, electronic messages, diary entries, and notes to self.
2) ESL.E.2-4.4.1.2
Students describe, read about, participate in or recommend a favorite activity, book, song, or other interest to various audiences.
ESL.E.2-4.4.1.2.MI
Audiences such as peers, classes, teachers, and other adults.
Students, as well as teachers, transitioning to a high tech class, may need some guidance in adapting to the new setting, however a class in computer lab with lessons structured around some of the above listed activities is hardly science fiction at this point in the developed world.
The computerized classroom can also involve parents more closely to their child's education since the computer classroom could be accessed from home, as well. Rita Zeinstejer made a short list with a case for blogging:
Why Blogging?
Because they allow us to...
- place lessons, assignments, and announcements online.
- expand students' access to relevant materials by incorporating links
- enhance class interaction through online discussions and chats
- facilitate idea sharing
- motivate and prepare students for class
- maintain communication with absent students
- challenge students by placing quizzes and tests online
- get parents more involved by giving them access to their children's assignment
The rest of the article furthers the case for blogging as a professional and as a student. Afterall, the computers themselves can only be valued by the content they produce.
And long, long ago... Prometheus's gift of fire was only as important as the soup it cooked.
You have made the case for blogging very eloquently. Regarding placing lessons online in class blogs, this would seem to work well for the popular idea of flipping classes as well as a place to post lessons for use during "snow days."
ReplyDeleteGreat info in this post!
ReplyDeleteIn middle school now are the students who were born around the time Facebook and Myspace were becoming popular (the flip side of that: we're getting old). These are the kids who have known how to navigate the internet and social media from a very young age. However, many of them do not blog and I think it would be a learning curve for all involved to get familiar with it.
I think another benefit for the students would be to keep a blog as a portfolio of sorts; almost like a timeline of their achievements, milestones and development.
I enjoyed reading your post, Michael - there was a lot of good info in it!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dr. Burgos's comment about online lessons in class blogs as an excellent way to incorporate the idea of flipping classrooms. Flipped classrooms are a great strategy and I think that using blogs as a medium to do that is a very good idea.
I also really like the idea of parental involvement. In a lot of cases, reaching students' parents through a phone call can be a difficult task. However, by having a class blog that connects with students' parents, it makes it very easy for parents to be able to catch up on what is going on in their child's class, and it gives you, the teacher, another option to communicate with parents when needed.