Friday, September 14, 2012

Classroom Blogging


Educational technology is becoming more predominant in classrooms today. Blogging is sweeping into classrooms all over the nation. Most blogs are free, so it will not interfere with school budgets. Blogs are easy to include in all subjects. If you want to improve students writing skills, or simply motivate them to write; blogging is the perfect solution. There are many benefits to blogging. Students of all ages can blog their thoughts, class assignments, personal stories, and even artwork. Blogging at an early age prepares students for future college work. I just created my blog this semester, if it wasn’t for Dr. Thompson requiring us to create one I would have never started blogging.

“Students know the technology, what they don’t often know is how it can change them as students.” (as cited by Ramaswami, 2008).

 

Benefits of Blogging:


Motivation

  • Students enjoy reading comments from their teacher, parents, family, fellow students, and community. Blogging motivates students to write more beyond their classroom assignments.
  • Jon Schwartz from Garrison Elementary School created a blog for his fourth and fifth grade students. Mr. Schwartz has stated that even on weekends his students’ blog (Schwartz, 2008). For more information on Mr. Schwartz class visit http://kidslikeblogs.org
  • The amount of motivation that students acquire really encourages them to write, which in turn develops a passion for writing.

Increased Writing Skills and Literacy

  • Students’ grammar, punctuation, and spelling improve (Jackson, 2012).
  • Students are able to draft, revise, and edit.
  • Students become more descriptive and detailed.
  • Improvement in the quantity of writing.
  • Students write for a purpose
  • Increase Vocabulary
  • Ability to explore different point of views

Communication/ Collaboration

  • Students communicate with other students and teachers around the nation
  • Students are able to provide, as well as receive feedback on their blogs
  • Blogging increase collaboration within the classroom
  • Creates a community of learners
  • Students develop an audience

Online Portfolio

  • Can be accessed anywhere
  • Tracking a student’s improvement throughout the term
  • Can be viewed by parents/guardians, family members, and teachers
  • Teachers can also use blogs as an online portfolio and professional development tool

Student-Center

  • Students blog about any topic
  • Students use the internet and different forms of media to research new topics
  • Student can pursue their own answers and direct their learning (Davis, & McGrail, 2009)

Safety First!

Students who blog feel more motivated to write. Students invest more of their time when they are writing for an audience. It’s important to establish safety rules and procedures prior to blogging. Parents should be aware of these safety rules when students are blogging from home. Jon Schwartz approves each comment that is added to a student’s page. Teachers should set up passwords to each student’s blog to monitor their posts as well as comments. There are some blogs that are created specifically for the education community. Teachers looking for a student safe educational blog can download blogmeister, a free online blog created by David Warlick.
 
Brain research indicates that growth is enhanced when students move beyond their comfort zone ad into the unknown (as cited by Brooks, & Brooks, 1993). Blogging creates an environment where students can explore a world outside of their classrooms. Students are provided with information that they might not understand. This encourages students to go above and beyond their assignments to research and discovery new answers. Blogging stimulates creative and reflective thinking (Ramaswami, 2008). It’s imperative that educators model the benefits of blogging. As stated by Deb Marciano “we need to learn technology, otherwise, our students won’t. We need to roll up our sleeves and do it as well.” (Marciano, 2008).
    Kathleen Morris and Kelly Jordan (2011)


 

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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    Ziglesias,

    I like that you not only had a "web", but that you also explained each topic in detail. However, I would have added a few items.

    Reading: Under literacy skills I would have mentioned fluency. Having students read and share their blogs could really help with fluency and reading checks.

    Communication: Why limit ourselves to the nation? The Web is global. There are MANY schools in foreign countries with English classes...think about even DOD schools. Students locally could have the opportunity to share cultures with the world, literally.

    I love that you said blogging would/could be student centered. Teaching, for some, is so teacher centered....what is convenient for the teacher. But if we make things student centered they will be more motivated (which you said) to perform.

    I did have a question, though.

    How do you feel about cyber bullying and inaprooriate content being posted? I mean, how do you, as a teacher, control that? Is it a logistical nightmare? It just seems like, while the pros outweigh the cons, it is a whole lot of work!

    Thank you for the post!
    Mike
    mmike5150

    ReplyDelete
  2. ziglesiasSeptember 14, 2012 at 8:24 AM



    Hello Mike,

    Thank you for the added information, it is greatly appreciated. While researching the benefits of blogging I also had worries of cyber bullying and ways to prevent inappropriate comments or even blogs. I came across a website created by David Warlick that is geared more towards student blogging. My first step would be to get parent permission and have a class discussion on the importance of internet safety. Teachers can also create each blog for the student and set up password protection settings. Jon Schwartz from Garrison Elementary school in Oceanside California set up all student blogs to where he has to approve them before they are posted. This also includes any comments left by visitors. This really helps on weeding out those comments that should not be posted on a student’s blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. chanks777.wordpress.comSeptember 14, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    When I first read your blog and you had mentioned that if it weren't for Dr. Thompson, you probably wouldn't be blogging at all, I laughed out loud - same here:) However, since really getting into the concept and reasoning as to the benefits to blogging, not only for teachers, but also for our students, I realized what a phenomenal tool this is to introduce to our students. As a computer lab teacher to our elementary students, I feel I have a responsibility to teach these skills to my students.

    I appreciate that you broke down the benefits of blogging the way you did. I totally love the idea of our students having the ability to journal and write, with added technological creativity involved. We have found, just in this class the importance of collaboration and communication. I also appreciate you mentioning the importance of Safety 1st. It seems that one of the biggest concerns for schools in this technological age is safety on the Internet. I was actually in a conversation with my principal just yesterday, (I've been waiting for the opportunity to spring the idea of blogging to her), and she actually brought up the idea of iPads in the classroom. The question was posed to her my another staff member, "How do we monitor what our students are viewing?" Her response is exactly what I knew to be true - "We have to teach them the proper way to do it." And there was my opening to let her know I wanted to teach my kids how to blog. Her response? "Do it!"

    So, here we go. Thanks for recommending Blogmeister. Free is awesome...free AND safe is priceless.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ziglesiasSeptember 15, 2012 at 11:23 AM

    Blogging is a great tool that can be done at home or at school. Will iPads be used in all classrooms, or just in your classroom? I think its great that your principal is very supportive and will allow students to blog. I hope this experience really engages your students to write and learn more. Please let us know how it turns out.

    ReplyDelete

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