Question 1 - Ideas: The ideas that most participants had centered on having the students engaged, working well with their peers, and keeping the lines of communication open with parents. It is important to note that students may feel very at home in this environment and may bring previous bad habits without a strong introduction to the rules. Blogging can be used in any classroom and can provide an opportunity for students to practice their writing and to engage with each other in a meaningful way. There are many resources out there, starting with www.kidblog.org and several wonderful ideas for engaging students such as made-for-class magazines like Scholastic and Time for Kids.
Question 2 - Benefits: During the discussion, Teams B and C mentioned that the benefits to using blogs in the classroom included more engaging discussions, sharing ideas in a safe environment, the ability to remain anonymous, and it also improved communication among teachers and students. Though some were concerned about blog entries being too tedious, most agreed that a weekly entry was possible and would not interfere with the teacher's daily schedule. The group also thought that cyber bullying and the improper use of technology could be addressed by creating and reinforcing the school’s acceptable use policy.
Question 3- Disadvantages: As a group, many felt that one of the disadvantages to blogging in the classroom, was the amount of time a teacher needed to devote to its launch and upkeep. Many worry about having to comment on each and every post along with maintaining the site. Another disadvantage the class felt blogging could spark, is a lack of control and safety for students. Being mindful of who has access to a blog, what people can or cannot post, and how the information is being displayed is something a teacher must think about before and after a blog is launched and introduced to a class of students. While there are some disadvantages, the group overall felt that blogging provides a wonderful way for students to make meaningful connections with others through writing.
Overall, the class shared 12 comments on Ideas and Benefits, and 7 for the Disadvantages. With this, we have all agreed that the benefits of blogging in the classroom are greater than the fears we have about it. Additionally, most of us have already implemented a version of blogging in our classrooms or professional environment which extended the discussion in this blog.
We end this blog with some food for thought...
- In what ways can an instructor maintain a friendly and positive community with parents using a blog site?
- How would you structure a feedback form on the blog that would ask participants to rate each other’s engagement in order to hold everyone accountable?
