People write blogs and update them regularly when they are interested in the blogging topic. When blogging, we show a lot of our personality. Others that have similar personalities or interests follow our blogs. I noticed several educational blogs; blogs informing people of how education is changing, why homework is/is not assigned and blogs by subject or classes taken. People follow or subscribe to blogs in order to communicate with others going through similar experiences or those that have similar concerns.
I think blog reading is different from other types of reading as it can include personal experiences. We not only read published articles, we read real life experiences, ideas, trials, success, etc...When blogging, we can give feedback, encouragement and support. We can discuss topics that are relevant to our situation and maybe get ideas from others that we have not already thought of. I tend to see blogs as a more laid back form of discussion.
I see blog writing as more conversational than report. It is more opinionated and a way to express feelings, thoughts, successes, trials, and failures. Blogging allows ownerships. To some people, a blog is like a diary that others can comment on. Keeping a blog throughout the years can show growth in certain areas, depending on the blog.
Commenting on blogs gives the blogger other ideas, pros, cons, encouragement and support. It is a form of communication on which people are passionate about. I see it as a group working together. Having several ideas makes the end product more meaningful and productive.
I believe there is a blogging literacy not only with blogs, but in web browsing and online reading. Students need to know how to site, link, navigate, explore and use different medias. When blogging, students are responsible for their published work and there are so many skills and rules students should know before writing for public eyes.
Blogging is a great way to facilitate learning. Archiving blogs is a way to track progress and growth from year to year. Students can reflect and evaluate on how far they've come and where they are going. Students can learn from each other and can learn to respect the comments and opinions of others. Students are not just limited to classroom discussions. Conversations can happen between students that are on opposite sides of the world. Blogs may also allow students to get in touch and have conversations with experts; conversations not possible in the classroom.
I agree with you on your comments about blog writing and reading. I tend to enjoy blog writing, because the personality of the writer often shows through. More than that, I like that blogs reflect personal experiences and opinions from the author. Informational writing can sometimes be bland and boring, and I find that many blogs are far from that. I also think the communication/collaboration elements are what really makes blogs stand out. It definitely makes writing more meaningful.
ReplyDeleteYou made a good point about blogging literacy as well as web browsing and online reading literacy. Students really need to understand how to navigate the internet before they came become successful bloggers.
Blogs can definitely take students out of the classroom, but I have noticed that many school systems have strict blogging policies as far as what's public and who can comment. Do you find that your county is more open-minded about blogging or do you have restrictions that could interfere with taking blogging to the next level?
I can see how some school districts can request that school blogs be kept within school interests. It's only fair as parents would rather see what the student is learning rather than hear how your trip to Tijuana was. Of course, no teacher would go that far, but as long as you self-monitor and scan the comments every now and then, you'll have a healthy blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly confident that most students are competent in their ability to blog. However, I am more concerned in their ability to properly convey an idea without spelling/grammar errors. People are heavily judged on what they output and if grammar is a weakpoint, then they forsake losing the ability to be heard.