There really isn't a question in these times, it seems like everybody who is anybody has a blog.
Firstly a blog is... all about me- therein lies the problem. If
I don't have something worth sharing-
I suppose
I need not share anything. Like Thumper, right? "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Many bloggers and Internet perusers could take a note from Thumper. As blogs are inherently an open forum which allows users to be a part of the writing process the blog is never truly finished. If a reader comments, one can engage and comment back- thus creating a discussion or argument. Unlike on a discussion board, the blog author is not required to respond as per netiquette requirements. On this same train of thought, a blog author may post whatever whimsy she chooses- there is no requirement for fact. The validity of a statement falls to the readers to decipher.
Blogs are an overwhelmingly positive resource for teachers. Many authors choose to create, experiment with and post on topics that are commonly studied within the education spectrum. Authors often create and share templates and tips for teaching that save educators time and energy. As easy as the idea of "starting" a blog may be, the maintenance and continual posting separate the master-bloggers from the mini-bloggers. There are relative levels of blogging as referenced by Will Richardson in his book
Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. He says:
"Doing connective writing in blogs is a different experience than just posting. If we
look at the spectrum of different types of Weblog posts, we can start to see where
posting ends and blogging an an academic exercise begins."
There is a difference between journaling and posting assignments or links and "metacognitive and reflective" writing. The higher order thinking strategies are more
depended upon in "real" blogging. Making connections between experiences and readings as well as writing with a specific audience in mind takes careful planning and control. To me, its much like writing a rough draft to an essay or book.
In the Winter 2013 edition of
Scholastic Administrator there's an interesting article called
Books, Blogs, Ideas. It focuses on Salman Khan and his idea of a tech-centric classroom which focuses on self-paced learning. He mentions the importance of incorporating technology in order to help the educational model to evolve. He also mentions that the current attention being paid to technology in schools is more negative than positive. Much like the concepts within the
Victorian Internet, these things take time. When a new idea is introduced it must first be constructed, tested, accepted and promoted within the educational community in order to secure validity.
Blogs in the classroom can be beneficial for students of all ages. Younger students are able to read and glean information from blogs in order to extend their learning. Older students may be able to use blogs to connect, collaborate and construct meaning through writing and commenting on the blogs of their teachers, classmates and other positive members of society. As blogs are a newer tool, I'm sure much will be learned, changed and will start to evolve as the possible educational uses become wider known. Personally, I look forward to incorporating blogs into my units of study to engage students and move them toward the ability to be good technology users as they grow academically.
Go ahead, start a blog... no pressure.
