Over the past week I have been asked a lot about blogs. I have had teachers ask me: How can a teacher use a blog in the classroom? What is a blog? How can my students use them? Should they use them? How can I monitor their blogs? Should I monitor their blogs? What's the purpose? Below is my best attempt to answer these questions
First of all what is a blog? (If your reading this you probably already know this answer, so bare with me) A blog is a place where an individual can post information, material, thoughts, etc. That information is then posted to the web were people can read. This information can be public, private, or to a select few, who you wish to have read your material.
How can a teacher use a blog? The options are endless. It can be used for homework. At the end of the day post what homework needs to be completed. Communication for parents. daily, weekly, monthly, however often you choose to update (consistency is key) parents can log on and check out what is going on in their child(s) class. This will hopefully lead to discussion between them at home.
How can students use a blog? Students can use a blog to reflect on their learning the same way we may as educators. In years past I have had students blog about specific topics (Should students go to school year round) or reflect on what they accomplished the past week. Have them blog about something they would like to learn more about or are interested in. It gives them a different avenue to express themselves and have their voice heard.
Should students blog? Yes! It is a way for students to build a digital portfolio. They can create a website where students products (word files, videos, pictures) can be uploaded and then use a blog to reflect on these and many other things. The products are static, meaning they won't change but their blog and reflections are dynamic as they will always be changing.
How can I, as a teacher, monitor their blogs? Or should I? This is an interesting question and posed some interesting responses from educators across Canada in a recent #cdnedchat topic via twitter. My personal belief is no, they should not be monitored. Students need to be taught what is means to be a good digital citizen and how the choices they make today will impacts them in the future. I like to refer to their digital footprint as a tattoo. What they say/write will stick with them for life, whether they like it or not. So we need to make good decisions and think about the future.
So, with all that being said why bother? You decide!
First of all what is a blog? (If your reading this you probably already know this answer, so bare with me) A blog is a place where an individual can post information, material, thoughts, etc. That information is then posted to the web were people can read. This information can be public, private, or to a select few, who you wish to have read your material.
How can a teacher use a blog? The options are endless. It can be used for homework. At the end of the day post what homework needs to be completed. Communication for parents. daily, weekly, monthly, however often you choose to update (consistency is key) parents can log on and check out what is going on in their child(s) class. This will hopefully lead to discussion between them at home.
How can students use a blog? Students can use a blog to reflect on their learning the same way we may as educators. In years past I have had students blog about specific topics (Should students go to school year round) or reflect on what they accomplished the past week. Have them blog about something they would like to learn more about or are interested in. It gives them a different avenue to express themselves and have their voice heard.
Should students blog? Yes! It is a way for students to build a digital portfolio. They can create a website where students products (word files, videos, pictures) can be uploaded and then use a blog to reflect on these and many other things. The products are static, meaning they won't change but their blog and reflections are dynamic as they will always be changing.
How can I, as a teacher, monitor their blogs? Or should I? This is an interesting question and posed some interesting responses from educators across Canada in a recent #cdnedchat topic via twitter. My personal belief is no, they should not be monitored. Students need to be taught what is means to be a good digital citizen and how the choices they make today will impacts them in the future. I like to refer to their digital footprint as a tattoo. What they say/write will stick with them for life, whether they like it or not. So we need to make good decisions and think about the future.
So, with all that being said why bother? You decide!
