I believe educational blogs and RSS feeds can benefit teachers, students and parents in the classroom. I think it is a great tool, because it provides teachers with a way of communicating information on a particular subject. Blogs are also readily available and easy to use. I think blogs offer students a way of expressing themselves and can be used as a teaching tool in facilitating and providing instruction in the classroom and extending instruction outside the classroom. Through, the use of RSS feeds, teachers can personalize their blogs and can constantly, be updated on content specific to a subject efficiently, without having to spend time weeding through tons of information. In addition, having one location to collect students work and scanning through class content making sure it’s appropriate is more efficient. Blogs are also a way of motivating students and engaging them in learning. Blogs can be used as a way of reinforcing instruction, through the use of text, video and audio postings on a particular subject.
While researching about blogs in the classroom, I came across an article on “Using Blogs to Improve Differentiated Instruction” in the classroom. I found this to be of interest in that, it is a way for teachers to differentiate instruction for students with diverse needs. Specifically, how science teachers were able to provide high-quality differentiated science instruction for all students in the classroom. For example, a teacher of ELL students, students on IEP’s, and gifted and talented student’ s, in a class of 20 to 24 was able to differentiate instruction to help all the students learn high-level science content and develop the academic language skills necessary to effectively communicate science concepts. This was done by building units and lessons that were together with her colleagues.
Blogs allowed them to extend class time by providing teachers with a user-friendly online format to reinforce strategies, introduce new topics and concepts, review important class points, review for tests and provide enrichment. ELL students require additional support with the language of science and its pronunciation. Vodcasting is way for teachers to combine Power Point visuals and narration to review key points of class lessons then uploading these podcasts to the blog for access by teachers, students, parents, tutors, teacher specialists and even paraprofessionals.
I would definitely incorportate Blogs in the classroom. I knew blogs existed, but had no idea until now how beneficial they can be, especially from an educational standpoint. As we know, there are always risks involved in using the internet. However, as educators, parents, and professionals , we have a responsibility to educate ourselves and our students on the ethics “if you will” of blogging or using the internet appropriately.
When implementing blogs as part of a classroom, plans should be developed and that include careful monitoring. I think parental consent, wouldn’t hurt. Providing students with clear expectations on the blogs use is no different that setting expectations in a classroom for lessons, behavior etc… These however, should be determined before allowing students access to blogs. In addition, to not allowing, for links to other random web logs, which may display inappropriate content.
There are free and paid hosting services that can help in controlling posts, such as edublogs.org. It gives teachers the ability to set permissions, access and allows them to approve work before published. Lets face it, if you cannot maintain your blog, then theres no point in using it or having one.
In my research I came across this site that listed:
11 Reasons to use a Blog in your Classroom
1. It provides your students with a “live” audience.
2. The focus will be more on content (as opposed to form)
3. It provides extra reading practice for students.
4. Blogs can be used as online student learner journals
5. To guide students to online resources appropriate for their level.
6. Blogs can increase the sense of community in a class.
7. To encourage shy students to participate.
8. To create a space for pre-class or post-class discussion.
9. To encourage a process-writing approach.
10.As an online portfolio or even an archive of student written work.
11. To help build a closer relationship between students in large classes.
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