Reasons to Blog

So I have been attending some PGO’s in regard to getting the students more involved with technology. OR getting the teachers more involved with technology as well. Having blogs, community pages, places where students can talk and create presentation, etc. But I am looking more at blogging today. Blogging is new to me, really have never done it till this year. And most of my friends really haven’t started blogging pictures and trip information till this year. So why has it gotten so popular with this generation? And why is it so important to do it with our students?

I found this article on Educator Week – Teacher edition regarding Blogs
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2011/04/27/tln_ratzel_courage.html?r=1460108215

The article gives 8 tips on how to use blogs in the classroom and what you should be prepared to do as a teacher / parent.

Starting with tip #1, which is covering the rules. If there is a class blog make sure that rules and regulations are posted, on your blog, website and sent to parents. Making sure that items that are on the blog are appropriate, worth reading and geared toward higher learning. Taking time and showing students how to post, learning how to respond and find information regarding the topic at hand is very useful as well.

Practicing without computers is the pretty cleaver tip that is recommended. Have the students practice with post-its and writing comments on them and post them around the room. Students are learning how to comment appropriately and seeing how their posts can be linked to others in the classroom. Practicing first with the teacher at hand will help going out on their own and actually doing an assignment with fellow classmates.

This article really emphasizes safety, either with usernames or contacting parents.
This is a great idea, but I am still stuck on the computer time. I teach some low level classes and yes most of them have computers but I still have a few that don’t. They ride the bus to and from school, don’t have a study hall, and are usually the free and reduced lunch crowd. So what would be a source or back-up idea for these students? And finding computer lab time is sometimes very difficult.

I found this article very informative, and has helped me get a better understanding of how and what to predict when hopefully I start Blogging with my students.