Blogs

BLOGS

What is a blog? A blog is a web-publishing tool that allows users to quickly and easily self-publish text, artwork, videos/pictures, links to websites and a whole array of other content. Blogs work well for students because they can be worked on at anytime and at any place with an internet connection. They allow a teacher to create a classroom that extends beyond the school.

Blogs are an excellent tool for communicating with students, but also have many other positives. They have the ability to motivate students, provide a forum for discussion and collaboration, create opportunities for students to read and write, and they enable scaffolded learning to occur.

Blogs do come with some risks. They need to be monitored and the students must be taught how to use them appropriately and responsibly. Issues of privacy and student safety are of huge concern; teachers must follow school’s internet and computer regulations as well as gain parental permission and support. Because blogs can be viewed publicly, it is up to the teacher to inform and train the students on issues surrounding access, privacy, security and free expression.

Do you feel like you’re a technophobe who has no idea about where to start? There is no need to worry. The internet has numerous resources about blogging (specifically education blogging) and how to use it in your classroom. Below are a few good sites to start you on your quest or just to enlighten you on how to use blogging in your classroom.

[|Edublogs]: Edublogs is the largest, most trusted and best supported way for teachers and students to engage with the world of blogging.

[|theEdublogger]: A wonderful blog site set up by __Edublogs__ full of tips and tricks on how to blog and use emerging technologies within your classrooms. This site has lists of classes from around the world looking to link up through blogging and skype. It also has a great introduction manual on how to get started blogging.

[|Web 2.0 in the Classroom]: This is a great blog created by an educator. It provides excellent ideas on how to use blogs in the classroom, how to start blogging with your class, plus a host of other blogs about using technology in the class.

[|Making Teachers Nerdy]: One educators exceptional blog with tons and tons of helpful information and links on how to incorporate ICT into your teaching. A must site to check out for all teachers!!!

Below are links to some example blog sites of classrooms and individual students:

[|Mrs. Yollis' Classroom blog]: A 3rd grade classroom blog. [|The Ins & Outs]: Winner of New Zealand's Best Class Blog 2010!!! [|Millie's Marvellous Blog]: Grade 2 students personal blog. [|Grace's Blog]: Grade 7 students personal blog.