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Cravin (2006) states that “according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, nearly two-thirds of Internet users don’t have a good idea of the meaning of “blog.” Cravin (2006) goes on to explain that blogs aren’t just fancy websites but “web logs” that allow users to keep “ a personal journal, but sharing it with the world”. When I first heard about blogs, I too was one of the majority who didn’t understand it but soon grew to value it.
Uses of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom such as blogs can provide support not only for the teacher as a personal networking tool but also for the classroom as a whole. As a 2nd grade teacher, I can see the valuable benefits and resources using blogs in the classroom can provide in all academic areas.
There are vast uses of blogs-personal & commercial, but the one I am most excited about is the use of it in my classroom. The buzz for some time now has been the integration of technology into the classroom to help our students become proficient in the 21st century workplace. As a teacher for the younger students, the use of blogs to promote reading, writing, communication, and social skills while fostering higher order thinking skills is one-step in this direction.
I currently use my classroom blog, which I began about a year ago as a communication tool for my parents as well as my students to keep them updated on classroom topics and events. I also use it as a means to showcase student work such as special projects and photos. It’s a great tool that offers a collaborative touch with the use of comments as well as features that allows the creator to upload photos, videos, and sound. Another neat feature that I find useful as a teacher is that the blog posts are archived so colleagues, parents, even myself can view and/or reply at any time.
To stay up to date on the latest trends and issues in education especially ones that relate to technology, I am constantly researching new & exciting ways to use tech tools such as blogs in my classroom. Thanks to the Web, our resources are limitless. From allowing students to make comments or ask questions about topics, to creating a class newsletter with photos, to using it as a reading response forum, to one of my favorites…. Blog-pals.
What a wonderful, powerful tool for both learner and educator.
References
Carvin, Andy (2006, May 22). What Exactly Is A Blog, Anyway? Retrieved January 4, 8, 2010 at http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now
/2006/05/what_exactly_is_a_blog_anyway.html
Beautiful job on this post, Robyn. It is great to read about how you are already using a blog with such young students!
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