Web 2.0 tool-Blogging for education

My second post for using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom will be why we should utilize blogging for our students. I believe the reason most school districts do not allow blogging is because most blog sites are not password protected. Blogmeister for classroom use is password protected. The teacher controls what is submitted and viewed on the web through Blogmeister.

Generally speaking, a blog is a personal journal for posting one's thoughts about anything from personal thoughts to project compilation such as what we FSO graduate students are doing. The blogs are dated and appear on a web site that hosts blogs, like this one we are using Blogger.com.

There is really no limit to the length of the blog or the number of subjects one may choose to write about. I have never blogged before except for a little bit on Facebook, however, I have friends who blog from their Blackberries about anything and everything, which I think is taking it a little far. But, to each his own.

My reasons for thinking that blogging would be beneficial for students in the classroom is that students can take ownership over their learning. It gives students a voice. Which, by the way, I am teaching writing for FCAT to 4th graders and am trying to get them to understand what voice means. Some are getting it and others are not. However, when they type their stories on the computer and view it, somehow being on the screen looks so much different than viewing it on paper.

I ask them, "is this what you wouldn't mind the world seeing" and then editing becomes more fun than tedious. They want to get it perfect! "Grandmother might see it!"

Students can receive feedback if blogging, from their peers, and it will motivate them to take a second look at their work and perhaps be motivated to produce better work.

I so enjoy teaching writing and I truly believe that blogging for students will enhance their writing and research skills. In our media center, there are 12 computers that students can use to conduct research in any curriculum topic. By conducting research and then writing about it will improve their literacy skills.

With Blogmeister, students can interact with other students around the world. They will be able to read and comment on others of like mindedness. Since the sites are monitored by the classroom teacher, the teacher can first read any blog to ensure Internet safety. This is a primary concern, as should be.

Blogging is also a way to communicate with parents while becoming technology literate. So many parents are really interested in what their students are studying and this would be a way for them to actually see what students write and how they feel about things that they sometimes can't verbally express. It is like art. Through art or even music, people can express themselves when they otherwise could not.

Blogging will keep students engaged and give them a chance to be creative and develop skills that will be useful to them in the future. Blogging is certainly an excellent tool for developing 21st century skills.

I have chosen a video from You Tube that allows you to hear what students have to say about blogging.