Blogs in the Classroom, About the Classroom

Today's Washington Post features four articles on educators and students using blogs, either to support instruction, or as a sounding board for professional achievements and frustrations.

In "Blackboard Blogging: Web Journals Become the New Fly on the Wall of Teachers Lounges," the author contends that teachers' personal blogs are raw portraits of the teaching profession in transition, and in trouble.

Blogging maverick Will Richardson (known for his Webblog-ed site) is the force behind "N.J. Teacher Makes Blogs a Staple at High School." Richardson became sold on blogging as a means for classroom discussion when he discovered the power of blogs' "transparency and reach."

Still, not everyone is sold on the promise of blogs in the classroom. Jessica Miller, of SUNY Buffalo, believes "Web Journals Both a Help and Hindrance." Anonymity, for example can be a curse and a blessing--allowing bloggers to post false information without consequences, and encouraging shy students to offer up their perspectives.

Capitalizing on the advantages of blogging, Alexander Halavais of SUNY Buffalo appreciates that "Blogs Sidestep Classroom Constraints." Discussions on blogs are more public, and less likely to go off on tangental topics, in Halavais' opinion. He adds that blogs also have the ability to live beyond class time constrictions, and invite participation from experts outside of the class rolls.

Are you thinking about using blogs in your classroom, or are you already a seasoned blogger or blog-facilitator? Share your experience.

 

Are you interested in learning how to use blogs in your classroom? Read our report on the session, "Blogs: How Do They Fit Into Teaching?"

Comments

[Jo McLeay]

Hello,
I have been using blogs in the classroom for a while now, and I was recently interviewed for an Australian newspaper about my experiences. You can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/lnrgb
Jo

[J. F. Comer]

I have also been using blogs in my teaching; the students seems to really enjoy putting their thoughts and words in a more digital format. Many are already making personal webpages with Myspace; this is a natural jump to a more academic arena.

I have also used blogs in my graduate school work.

The above URL is an example.

[J. F. Comer]

try this...

www.culturalpsychology.blogspot.com

[Ryan Lynch]

I teach a mass communication class to high school students. As part of the course, students are required to build their own blogs and analyze the media with their blog as the platform.

Student blogs are toward the bottom of the page.

[Todd]

I've been using blogs in my classroom to replace individual journals for the past year and a half. All of my students have a Blogger account and are required to keep an ongoing journal of their outside reading. I hope to get funding from a grant to buy a URL and set up a way for students to blog in private (Blogger is open to anyone), so identity issues are on my radar. That's the reason I never link to the page with my student blogs.

I also use my own blog as a way to think about my teaching. Through that blog, I've completely changed the way I approach my classes this year. What I'm doing now never would have dawned on me if I hadn't been blogging. The level of reflection that is required in order to blog about an experience has led me to some interesting observations about teaching and has helped me improve.

It's pretty exciting to take that chance and put your thoughts, fears, concerns, and achievements on public display like that, but I think that's the only way to grow. Ed-blogging should not be the rarity that it is. Neither should the use of blogs in the classroom.

[Justin Kreft]

I want to second the opinion forwarded by Todd in the previous comment. I am a Masters student at University of Penn, and I have found blogs to be an incredible resource in reflection. It is a perfect way to inject critical pedagogy into your practice, as well as a fantastic way to gather research: both on your practice and your students.

I strongly encourage other educators to utilize this tool for their own benefit.