It appears blogging was not high on my priority list, even though it is a requirement for my course. Somehow, I just never managed to get back to this during the week. Of course, three days with the stomach flu didn't help my productivity....but it does make a point. Blogging? Is it a sustainable form of communication or sporadic in nature?
My first introduction to blogging was from 'media' types. Radio and television personalities often maintain blogs as part of their profession. I always wondered about 'ordinary' people who blogged. Did these people think what they had to say was really that important to the rest of the world? And when I did follow personal blogs, like a colleague's trip to Italy last summer, I somehow felt like I was invading her privacy, even though she invited us to follow along. I guess my first step in understanding blogs came when I started thinking of them more as interactive bulletins boards rather than electronic diaries (although, in truth, it depends on the blog). So how can these blogs be useful in education? And are they sustainable?
Another colleague was very enthusiastic about setting up a classroom blog. In the beginning it was a huge success, but interest waned as time went on. With so much else going on, it was hard to maintain. I think the blog was an addition to programming rather that a replacement of another form of communication, making it redundant and just extra work. Other teachers do find blogs useful and are able to maintain them throughout the year.
Teachers who previously created web pages for their classrooms find blogging an easier format to update with current information and assignments. The blog format also allows for interaction with and between students. The teacher who administrates the blog can edit out any inappropriate posts and correct any misinformation. Blogs can also be viewed by parents so they are up to date with class information.
Neither of my sons are bloggers, nor have they been involved in an 'edublogs' for school. Facebook and Twitter seem to be the more popular format for them and their peers. But those are social communication platforms, whereas blogging seems to becoming more of an information platform. I do however wonder about the current accuracy of data presented in "The Educated Blogger" by D. Huffaker (2005: AACE Journal, 13(2),91-98) where it is stated that "51.5% of blogs are being developed and maintained by ages13-19". If blogs are being effectively utilized in education, I suppose this could be true, but I don't feel those statistics are indicative of students in my area.
I do like Huffaker's ideas about using blogs for literacy development and storytelling. Students can improve their computer skills, learn about internet communication and work on story development and writing skills by creating or posting to a blog. It makes me think of the 'story tellers' and verbal history of many cultures and of the past. This electronic story telling could be our new way of passing down our history from person to person (in comparison to a textbook or other formal produced text or media).
It is important to reinforce with students that blogs are personal statements and opinions, and that information posted in a blog needs to be verified if being used as a resource. But when understood properly, this aspect of blogging will help students understand the perspective and point of view of others (as detailed in "school library blogging". K. McPherson. Teacher Librarian. Seattle. Jun2006. Vol.33, Iss5, pp 67-69). The blog also gives students the opportunity to answer a question or add to a discussion when they may not feel comfortable speaking in class. It gives the individual time to think through their answers and post their thoughts when they are satisfied they have expressed themselves successfully. A blog takes the pressure off of the immediacy of response in a live classroom discussion.
If using the blog format in the classroom, security is definitely a consideration as it is with any school internet usage. It is important that the administrator monitor the blog and its participants. Students need to be aware of safe internet practices, and a blog can be a useful format to education them in this area of knowledge and experience as well as whatever the current subject/discussion of the blog may be at the time. Internet security will be the focus of a future blog.
So, am I sold on blogging as an educational tool? Not yet. But I am becoming more interested in the format and its potential as a communication tool and an interactive bulletin and discussion board. Am I ready to start blogging with my students? No yet. But when I start planning for my new placement in the fall it is definitely a tool I would be interested in investigating further with my students.
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