I started offering blogging as an instructional tool about year or so ago. I thought that it would offer students the opportunity to express their thoughts freely in a method that was new and enjoyable, since they already spend so much time online. Since not all students had access to the internet at home, I offered blogging as extra credit. I figured that it might motivate students who did not have computers or internet access at home, to go to the library so that they could engage in this activity. Not many students actually took this opportunity, but I do plan to push it again in February when we begin our spring semester.
Another problem I have had is with parents who don't want their children to use the internet because they fear that their children will get into dangerous activities online or engage in social networking sites and not study at all. While integrating blogs as part of instruction is challenging as with any new frontier, I do believe that it will soon become the norm. It is just a matter of time.
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Hello all! I'm commenting on my own blog posting: I neglected to give you a few details about my classes, so here they are. I teach ninth and tenth grade Global History and Geography; I also teach twelfth grade Economics and Participation in American Government.
In terms of reasons why blogging is a useful tool for instruction is the fact that it provides students with the time needed to analyze a topic, and be able to express their responses or ask questions without the pressure of a timed classroom setting.
I find that parents, like many teachers and administrators, are sometimes resistant to changes in education. The fear of what could happen online clouds the awareness of the good that could happen. The reality is that, though the internet makes things more accessible, the same dangers are present offline as well. I think this is a good reason to show parents that safeguards are in place. However, I agree with you that time may be what is needed here.
April
K-8 Educator
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