Blogging

Blogging is a wonderful tool for everyone. I especially think blogging would be a great tool to use in the classroom. It makes me sad that our school does not allow this type of communication in the school. I understand why they block this ability, but also have a hard time understanding why there can not be certain restrictions put on some of the sites they choose to block us from. After reading articles about blogging I understand that they are trying very hard to make it more secure for use in the classroom and hope that they are able to do this soon. Blogging could be a fantastic tool for journaling about a certain subject or activity that we did, to let children have a voice that are scared to speak up in the classroom, or as a tool to get to know one another better.

Susan Saunders' Blog

I have never blogged before but do see many advantages for students to blog at school. I could see using blogging effectively as a teaching tool. Students could contribute information and also links. I could also see using blogging for interactive writing across curriculums. Students would see writing as fun and even challenging especially those students who view writing as a painful act. It would also encourage reading. Students could follow blogs on subjects that interest them. Students would definitely need a course in Blogging Etiquette since many students believe everything posted on a blog. I've even had students use information from blogs that was incorrect. Our district has most blogging sites blocked so it might be futile to attempt class blogging even though there are many advantages to having students blogging.

Blogging on Blogging

I think that blogs are great for recreational use but obviously they can get out of hand. There is a clear distinction between factual information and blogging. Unfortunately, students have a very difficult time distinguishing between the two. What is even scarier, most adults do not understand the concept of blogging and the dangers of accepting bloggers as credible sources. I am sure they work great as online diaries, just not sure why you would necessarily want the world to read it!!!

Sandra Nissen's Blog

Blogging could be another great way to facilitate the writing process, but many of the districts currently block this type of internet activity. Of course, online safety is extremely important! After reading the article, Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson, I see that many districts are searching for class blog sites that are safe and secure. Using closed Web tools like KidzBlog would allow students a chance to express themselves with blogging. The technical service corrdinators need to be aware that these options exist!

Blaaaaahhging! Dena Kerr

I should really be checking my Baker email more often. I would save myself so much grief! Well, helping me figure out how to contribute an original post to this blog has been a "class project" for my summer school kids, so I can truthfully say I'm using it in my classroom! I was surprised that I'm working on this at school and no alarms have gone off, and no tech people have come charging into my classroom ready to haul me away in handcuffs. All that aside, I really can see myself using a classroom blog. When I asked my summer school students, "OK, are any of you familiar with blogging?" every kid jumped up out of his/her seat and waved at me with huge smiles on their faces. We would be fools not to tap into that enthusiasm, no matter what hurdles our districts, our techies, or our own trepidations may throw out in front of us! Kids need to feel ownership in their own educational process... to be contributors, not just receptacles.

Nancy's Blogging

Well, this is a new experience for me. It took a little bit for me to figure out how to add a new post to this blog. I have read blogs before but never had one of my own. I think that this would be useful in my classroom. I would use it to post weekly homework assignments, newsletters, pictures and classroom comments. It would be a great tool to keep up to date with parents about what is going on it the classroom. That being said, blogs are blocked at my school. I would have to just about beg to have a blog open for students, parents and other teachers to see and use. I would be willing to do that because it is yet another great technology resource that our students need to understand.

Blogging

I have had some friends who have done blogs and I have read apparently a lot of blogs. While I don't think that there is anything interesting in my journals that people would want to read, I still don't think I would blog.
I think that a lot of people need a place to vent their thoughts and ideas. The danger comes when we take their opinion for truth. Even worse they copy that person's original thoughts as their own. When you put your thoughts and ideas out there you open your self up for criticism and scrutiny that the school tries to prevent.
Using blogs in the classroom would require clear communication with parents about what is going on. Also, the students would need to be taught how to blog in a school appropriate way. Thirdly, students would need to learn how to give and take criticism in a helpful and healthy way.
I am thinking about trying a class blog and having my students posting to it weekly about something they got out of class for the week. Not sure yet. I want to hear what they (my students) think and yet I am wary of heading down this road.