Blogging in the Classroom

Blogging has the potential to be an incredibly positive and effective tool in the classroom. Blogs can be run by the class as a whole or individually by each student. Students can personalize their own blogs, allowing their creativity and personality to shine through their work! Blogs are meant to help individuals share their ideas and opinions in their own voice. The great thing about blogging is that it is an expressive and receptive tool. Students are free to express themselves through their writing while receiving feedback and new ideas from their peers. There is really no limitation on communication through blogging!

I love the idea of using blogging in my classroom because the product is something that my students will be able to hold onto. My students will forever be able to edit and add to their blogs as they see fit. I also love the fact that communication is open among peers and the public and can continue for any desired amount of time. This is something that google and word documents do not offer. I hated writing anything in high school because I knew that all I needed to do was write up something that my teacher would like, get the grade stamped on the top, and then I could throw my work in the recycling bin. Blogging allows students to write to a broader audience and receive feedback from multiple points of views. The conversation pertaining to a particular piece can go in many different directions.

Blogs are a great tool for students, but they can also be great for teachers! Let's be honest; there is never enough time in the school day to cover EVERYTHING that we want to. Blogs allow teachers to expand their lessons and go into greater detail than they are able to in the classroom! The students in your classroom could use the blog as a resource for further information, or perhaps to even study for an exam. Teachers can use blogs to communicate with students, parents, and fellow teachers. They are a great way to post updates on what is being done in the classroom, display students' work, and give reminders of due dates, exams, parent-teacher conferences, etc.

Blogs can be utilized in many more ways than a simple Google/Word document. They have a place in any classroom, regardless of subject. I definitely plan on taking advantage of this tool in my classroom someday!