Blogs in the Classroom

Using blogs in the classroom was a new idea to me when I first started the EDM 310 class. At first I thought that blog use in the classroom would just be basic. The teacher just posts homework assignments to remind students and let parents know. As the class progressed I learned so much more about blogs, and realized that there are so many uses for them. They are definitely a great tool to use in the classroom and can help teachers accomplish many things.

The are many positive aspects to blogging in the classroom. One huge benefit of having blogs is the communication it facilitates. The teacher can communicate with the students even outside of class. If they have a question on the homework they can leave a comment about it. That's extremely helpful because other students may have the same question but were to shy to ask. Blogs also help students communicate with each other. If every student has their own blog then they can comment on each others. Also, it helps parents communicate with the teacher. They can ask questions about assignments, or just ask how their child is doing in class.

Another positive aspect of blogging is that it is fun! I think most students would love creating and customizing a web page about themselves. I think they would also love sharing their ideas with their classmates and the teacher. It will be fun for them to be creative and to do something out of the ordinary. Also since blogging is so much fun they will be more engaged in it. They will be willing to read what the teacher says because it will not feel like homework.

It's hard to think of any negative aspects to blogging. The only negative thing I can think of is that not all students will have access to a computer at home. These students may feel left out of a crucial part of class. One way to remedy this is to schedule regular trips to computer lab. Also if there are computers in the classroom the children could work on their blogs during class. I think blogs are a great tool and I will definitely use them when I am a teacher.