Blogger

**Blogger ** **__Overview:__ With the Internet becoming an increasingly important part of our public discourse, and with blogs (online articles, essentially) becoming an increasingly important part of the internet, the potential importance of blogging when it comes to public education is apparent. With the Internet having made the world into, in the words of Marshall McLuhan, a “global village,” it has become vital that the classroom embrace the potential of these technologies to disseminate information to our students. Of all the blogging resources out there, one of the most popular is Blogger, located at www.blogger.com. Blogger is a subsidiary of Google, which hosts a number of other functions useful to educators. If a student has a Google account, the two websites can exchange and import information. What makes blogging so valuable is that it is incredibly easy. In the past, making a website required (literally) a different language (html, Linux, etc.). Blogs have made it possible to bypass that requirement and post articles directly onto one’s own little slice of a larger website, accessible to anyone with a web browser and an internet connection. Blogging is useful for a variety of disciplines. It has been argued that, “in education [blogs] can be used for student journals and portfolios, communication with parents and community members, faculty coaching, classroom management (e.g., posting assignments), and other knowledge management tools (Long, 2002) and enhancing classroom discussion” (Deubel 2007, pg. 1). Blogging is also valuable in that, for many students, it is something they are already familiar with. Many students already have blogs, which they use as either a diary or to showcase their poetry. Even if they don’t already blog, adolescence is a time for acute emotions that often need an appropriate outlet, and so many students recognize blogs as having that cathartic value. “Blogging has exploded in popularity, giving educators and students an unprecedented opportunity for easy self-expression and reflection that anyone can access--and to which anyone can respond” (Pierce 2006, pg. 1). Indeed, that last assertion is nothing short of peer review. The relevance for education is crystal clear: “blogs can support the collaborative element so important for peer to peer learning” Deubel 2007, pg. 1).

__Features:__ • blogs are located entirely online, and are free for both teachers and students to use • enables consistent dialogue between students and students and students and instructors • appear in reverse chronological order and can include archived entries

__Strengths:__ • very user-friendly • no software needs to be downloaded • motivating to many students, very often those who otherwise might not be active participants • provides excellent and inspiring opportunities for students to read and write • generates effective forums (accessible any time) for collaboration and discussion inside and outside the classroom • provides powerful tools that enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur

__Weaknesses:__ • works most effectively when students have ready access to the internet • being based largely outside of school, it can be difficult to monitor some blogs • safety is paramount: no personal information about students should be posted • can be damaging to student self-esteem if not handled delicately

__Before using...__ • get parental consent for all students involved • establish ground rules for use of blogs (permissible language, content, etc.) • make sure the purpose of the blog is made clear to all participants

__Best Practice #1:__ //Classroom management:// Blogs can serve as a portal by which teachers may develop and emphasize a community of learners. As blogs are quite easy to create and then update efficiently and regularly, they can be used by the teacher as an ideal vehicle to inform students of class or assignment requirements, post new and old handouts and homework assignments, or act as a question and answer board.

__Best Practice #2:__ //Student-to-student and student-to-teacher collaboration:// Blogs can provide a space where teachers and students can both work together in order to develop writing or other skills with the advantage of an instant audience of people they know. Teachers can offer constructive and instructional tips and students can practice and benefit from peer review. Blogs also make online mentoring a possibility, even between classes and grade levels. Blogs also make it possible for students to participate in cooperative learning activities that may require them, individually or in small groups, to relay information, research, ideas, or suggestions.

__Best Practice #3:__ //Class discussions:// A class blog provides an effective opportunity for students to continue or begin discussions of topics outside of the classroom. Blogs grant every person an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions in a common forum. Since blogs are utilized remotely by writing, as opposed to occurring in real time, students have time to react to ideas and reflect on learning with less pressure. Teachers are also able to bring together knowledgeable individuals to provide a given unit of study to allow students to network and conference.

__Best Practice #4:__ //Student portfolios:// Blogs can present, organize, and protect student work in digital portfolios. As earlier entries are automatically archived, development of student skills and progress may be conveniently assessed. In addition, as students are aware that their scholastic efforts will be published, they are often motivated to produce higher-quality writing. Teachers and peers are also able to individually conference with students regarding developing projects, and instructor or peer suggestions can be more easily kept for future reference.

__Bibliography:__ ** **• Deubel, P. PhD. (2007). Moderating and ethics for the classroom instructional blog. //The K-12 Tech Trends Journal.// http://www.thejournal.com/the/newsletters/k12techtrends/archives/?aid=20257&recipid_alpha;= • Pierce, D. Panelists: blogs are changing education. //e-School News.// pg. 1-3. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=36898&CFID=5276094&CFTOKEN=50304766 • Thomas. Using blogs to enhance learning – some helpful tips. //Open Education.// http://www.openeducation.net/2008/10/10/using-blogs-to-enhance-learning-%E2%80%93-some-helpful-tips/

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