BP2_2010041_Educational Uses for Blogs

Blogs can be excellent tools for students to share ideas, learn, and discover alongside one another in a meaningful, engaging way. There are a couple of ways I envision the use of blogs. One is a collective classroom blog in which students and the teacher can create posts on the current content topic and have an ongoing discussion that goes beyond superficial learning from a textbook. The students become invested in creating something unique and having a voice. The other way I see blogs being useful is each student creating their own educational blog, similar to what we're doing in this ETC course, and students can read & comment on other students' blogs. I can grade blog entries as assessments and I can leave comments. In both cases the students are at the center of discovering and they are responsible for their learning. I think it's a great way for students and teachers to remain connected.



As I explored some uses for blogs among educators I came across several great perspectives and creative ideas for using blogs. A science teacher in response to another educator's blog post pointed out that using blogs is very helpful with general classroom management (Devji, http://thanhnguyen75.blogspot.com/2006/11/use-of-blogs-in-education_14.html). The original blogger highlights a list of reasons to use blogs including increasing motivation for students and allowing them to increase their reading and writing skills (Nguyen, http://thanhnguyen75.blogspot.com/2006/11/use-of-blogs-in-education_14.html). Some other fantastic reasons for using blogs in education are allowing students to express themselves and reflect on the days lesson or activity (Dell, http://www.slideshare.net/sqoolmaster/educational-uses-of-blogs-and-tags-234136). I particularly see the need for reflection. Too often students in a public classroom setting are treated like factory workers - get them in and out as efficiently as possible, filling them with knowledge. Students don't get a chance in class to stop and think and reflect on what just happened or what the teachers and students may have said. One of the greatest possibilities also mentioned in this slide show is communication with classrooms around the world (Dell). I want nothing more than for my students to learn from students in another country. If I can't take my students to another country then at least I can introduce them to other cultures. They need to know that even though there are people their age that have different life experiences, they can still relate to them. Students need to be introduced to other cultures that their minds may be opened and their world views may be more global.