BLOGS IN EDUCATIONBy: Gabrielle Moran

BLOGGING MENU:

Blog Basics Four Basic

Functions of a blog

What do you need to start blogging?

Safety, Safety, Safety

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“Blogs work well for students because they can be worked on at virtually any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer. Hence, they can be used by teachers to create a classroom that extends beyond the boundaries of the school yard” (Teaching Today).

Blogs are motivating to students, especially those who might not participate in the classroom, excellent opportunities for students to read and write, effective forums for collaboration and discussion, and are powerful tools to enable mentoring to occur.

A blog is a Web publishing tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish text, artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites, and much, much more (The McGraw-Hill Companies).

A blog is different from a typical Web site in that the primary content is comprised of a daily posting. Blog postings are text entries which include a posting date. Postings are often short and frequently updated.

Blogs are very easy to use. They require minimum technical knowledge and are quickly and easily maintained.

BLOGS CAN SERVE AT LEAST FOUR BASIC FUNCTIONS

Classroom Management- used to inform students of class requirements, homework, notices, etc

Collaboration- provide a space where teachers and students can work to improve their writing skills with the advantage of an instant audience

Discussions- every person has an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions

Student Portfolios- blogs present, organize, and protect student work as digital portfolios

“As students realize their efforts will be published, they are typically more motivated to produce better writing” (Teaching Today).

I believe blogging is a great educational tool to use in the classroom. Personally, I have never blogged before I took this W200 class. It was very easy, fun, and a way to let out my creative side. I never thought I was a very good writer in school, but my creating my own blog, I took more time and effort when posting blogs because I knew a lot more than just our class have access to reading my blog.

http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/how toarticles/blog-basics

LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY Weblogs or “blogs” can

be used for a variety of purposes. They can be set up as personal journals, bulletin boards, electronic portfolios of written work.

Classrooms from around the world can collaborate, build knowledge, and build communities.

Blogs provide a forum in which everyone can participate equally, and new discussions can easily branch out from established topics.

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATIONAL BLOG SITES

The Weblogs in Education site (www.schoolblogs.com) includes discussion on the use of blogs in education, as well as the tools and Web space to start your own blog

EduBlogs: Blogs in Education (http://webtools.cityu.edu.hk/news/newslett/edublogs.htm) goes into detail about the use of blogs and includes many links to other sites about blogging in education

AlterEgo (http://alterego.manilasites.com) is another interesting blog dedicated to educational uses and research

Greg Weiler states, “Blogs have been referred to as “the pirate radio stations of the Internet,” “Swiss Army Web sites” or as a “disruptive technology” (Using Weblongs in the Classroom). I disagree with this statement because I believe blogs have great potential for educational use. Blogs are inexpensive or even free on some sites. Very little technical knowledge is required. All is needed is a computer and a student to create their own useful blog.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/3650430

SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY

It is very important to protect the students when posting blogs online.

First, find out what your district or school Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) says about posting student work and names online.

Next, consider using a blogging program/online tool that requires a password to publish.

Finally, the teacher has the final say about what goes online, and you can edit out any identifying information (such as a student’s home address) before it becomes public.

EXAMPLES OF WEB-BASED PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS

Blogmeister- free blogging tool that is completely online, no software to install, teacher sets up the blog and student accounts

KidzBlog- affordable, secure, and simple solution for the elementary teacher wanting to blog on just one classroom computer

Thingamablog-for teachers with advanced techie skills and interest in open source software, requires a Web site hosted on a school, district, or other third-party server

REFLECTION According to Lorrie Jackson,

“Research has long shown that students write more, write in greater detail, and take greater care with spelling, grammar, and punctuation, when they are writing to an authentic audience over the Internet” (Education World). However, teachers must make sure of their students’ online safety when posting blogs online. Make sure you never use their last name, student’s home address, etc.

http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml

CONCLUSION Blogs have been emerging as an effective way to publish and

manage content on the Web. Blogs come in many varieties and are usually very inexpensive, or even free. This means that there are now instant publishing systems available for teachers and students. Very little technical knowledge is required. All that is needed is the content to be displayed.

There are many educational benefits of blogs. The one benefit that relates to me directly is they are motivating. It motivates me to do my best since the blogs can be seen by anyone in the world.

Blogs can become an extension of the classroom, where discussions and collaborations continue outside of the school grounds. This makes blogs an excellent vehicle for student-centered learning. Classrooms from around the world can collaborate, build knowledge, and build communities.

Every K-12 student must be kept safe when blogging online. Never post your last name, address, age, etc.