Identify possible instructional uses for blogs in the classroom and address any related issues regarding the use of blogs in education. Describe how blogs may provide advantages over traditional forms of instruction.
Blogs in the classroom can have many instructional uses. Blogs provide a communication space that teachers can utilize with students whenever there is a curriculum need to develop writing, share ideas and reflect on work being undertaken in the classroom. Some students even find it easier to communicate with a teacher through a blog, rather then face to face. But using a blog does have some disadvantages. First it can be viewed by anyone, not just the teacher or other students in the class. Students need to know that what they write will not be private and they need to know not to write any personal information they wouldn’t want people to see. As well as make sure the material they are posting is school appropiate because they are using it for educational purposes. Another disadvantage is that students may have difficulty signing in, I know myself everytime i went to log in it took a few trys because the system said my email was invaild. dispite their disadvantages, blogs advantages in the classroom are far better. Blogs provide advantages over traditional teaching methods because it is more interactive for the students.
A few ways teachers can use blogs in the classroom include:
have students write a journals on a daily basis in their blog
book/movie discussions
student/parent book discussions
book reviews
current events
student opinions
reflecting on visual images
reflecting on primary source documents
debates
student poetry and reflection
posting student artwork for critiquing
posting student books for critiquing
Overall I feel that blogs would enhance a classroom, and help the students communicate better with the teacher as well as provide a space for students to post their opinions and ideas.
