Blogging in the Classroom

Blogging is a great introduction to internet communication for students. When blogging, word processing skills are taught within an authentic and motivational format. Internet safety is a concern for parents and students. By introducing this form of social media in a structured environment, students are taught early on the importance of anonymity and online safety. Students are censored as to the types of materials being posted, and they get in the habit of excluding personal information from their entries. Most school districts have restrictions on the amount of information that can be shared, so it is mandatory that teachers instruct their students on proper online behavior. A blog is a great way to introduce online safety, yet provide students with a structured way to experiment with social media. Through blogging students can also become more aware of how accessible information they put out really can be.
One benefit of blogging the article I read (Blog On) mentioned that blogs motivate students more because their responses are read by more people. It is easy to give students a CROPQVS graphic organizer and have them fill in the boxes or focus on one of the areas during a guided reading group; however, students apply these strategies when responding to blog posts. The focus shifts from learn strategies that they will one day apply to applying the strategies in meaningful contexts. Using blogs as reader response tools is very powerful.
Depending on the format and expectations of blog posts, it can also be differentiated to fit a variety of grade levels and ability levels within a single classroom. Responses can range from a formal piece of writing to a one sentence response to something someone has written.
I think blogs are excellent ways for students to share their ideas and comment on each other’s thinking. It’s a format which can be accessible outside of the classroom. I believe this aspect is especially helpful for students who want to learn more or are capable of learning more than the basic curriculum. Blogs focused on specific topics can help connect students interested in the same subject matter. Many gifted students in rural areas, and some in more densely populated areas, are isolated from intellectual peers. This form of social media provides a safe avenue through which these students can discuss their interests, collaborate on projects, and share resources.
There are blogs created on a large variety of topics. Teachers can help students understand the format and purpose of blogs by investigating some that already exist. For students who are unable to get on the internet because of a lack of parental permission, they can still have their work and ideas shared by participating in group activities. The distribution of responsibilities for the group could be arranged so that the student would not be left out. The article discussed how blogs can be used as a choice during independent work time, but they can also be part of a regular reading lesson. Students can explain their solution strategies to mathematics problems and comment on how their thinking is similar to or different from other students. They can post interesting facts about animals and helpful websites when doing research, or pose questions for future study.
With these lessons, blogs can be incorporated into the classroom during whole class lessons, small group work, science labs, and independent study.