As an educator, making connections with students is key in ensuring their success in school. New media is one way to do this. Students are constantly texting, checking Facebook, and using new media to keep in contact with others and their world. Utilizing these new media devices would increase this idea of connectedness with students.
One example of new media is blogging. According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary (2001), a blog is "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer". Fostering interchanges among the students in the classroom is a curriculum standard that may be taught through blogs. An example of this is having the students read an article, post a blog, and then comment on other students' blogs. The possibilities do not end there Classroom Ideas. Andy Carvin (2006) also shared other uses for blogging in education that focused on colleagues and parents Communication with blogs.
Classroom blogging offers many benefits to the students. Blogging is motivational. Students are using tools they know and can manipulate well. They are also building skills through the blogs. The growth of their writing skills is encouraged. The blogs do need to be reviewed by the teacher and mini units on writing may be developed upon seeing the responses. Blogging also gives the opportunity of using critical thinking skills because the student must read and understand the material blogged and write an appropriate response. This new media device will employ their technology skills. Technology surrounds us and students need to be competent in using it. Education is about learning and preparing students for the real world. Having students employ these skills through blogs is very appropriate in education today.
However, as an educator, knowing what the new media is and having ideas on how to use this device presented, is not enough. Teachers need to be aware of the dangers of blogging. Because blogs are web based and may be accessed by anyone, teaching students about safeguarding their information as well as using appropriate language is imperative Dangers.
In conclusion, blogging is a terrific new media tool that educators can employ to motivate students and enhance their curriculum. It may be used as a communication device as well. Dangers are present, with blogging, but educating the students about those concerns would be part of the teaching process.
Key Words: blogging, dangers, educational, motivational
Resources:
Carver, A. (2006). What Exactly is a Blog, Anyway? Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/2006/05/what_exactly_is_a_blog_anyway.html
Education Tech Team, Education World, (2011). The Education World Tech Team Discusses Social Networking and Blogging Sites-Should Schools Ban Them or Teach Kids to Use Them? Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech232.shtml
Group of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2006. Using Blogs to Integrate Technology into the Classroom.
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blog
Great work on your first blog. It is fascinating to see how the world of education is using this new new technology. I also think that it is fascinating how the line between what is appropriate and what is not is so fine. I remember being in HS and my teachers would have FB accounts. We would want to friend our teachers but was that really appropriate? I am sure my teachers wanted to have their own information on there, but should the student be seeing how the teacher dressed for halloween? (Not necessarily)
ReplyDeleteVery nice first blog. I really enjoyed reading your comments on technology used in an educational format. You are not alone in that viewpoint. We are told as educators that we need to connect with the students in the classroom. It would make sense then to use devices these students are already utilizing. It only makes sense. I am currently taking Methods of Teaching Communication Arts. The professor spent much of the summer researching how an iPad could be implemented into the classroom. And that's not all. How about an English teaching creating a Facebook page for an author (say Mark Twain for a unit on Huckleberry Finn)? Would that connect with the students in a new and unique way? For sure! I agree that we need to start using these new technologies. If we have them around, may as well take advantage of them. Great post. I look forward to what else you post in the coming 15 weeks.
ReplyDeleteInteresting ideas about how the blog world can open up so much learning for students. From the writing to the critical thinking, its a great way for students to learn.
ReplyDeleteI do feel that writing blogs, for some students would probably take them out of their comfort zone, which is a good thing. Being exposed to a lot of things in the classroom is what learning is all about.
The fact that you are trying to reach out to students via new technology is a job well done! We must change with the times and reach students in ways that they know/are comfortable with. Everyone learns/accomplish more if the activity appeals to them. By you reaching out and trying to help the students with blogging they are apt to learn more than you lecturing them or reading the book. People retain information if they find projects to be upbeat and for lack of a better word fun. I enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteI really like your ideas of using new media. My mom went back to school and is now teaching second grade. A way she has told me she keeps her students interested is through media. She has my two cousins on facebook and they are in Iraq fighting the war, and her students write them letters asking about their experience over there. She told me that the kids really like this because they get to hear from people via email and it keeps them interested in our world today.
ReplyDeleteI feel if the new generation is feeling more comfortable with the computer to express there feelings and the expression putting pen to paper is turning into hand to keyboard is more accurate then you should let kids blog and use the internet as a online resource to learning
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