Blogging Has a Place in the Classroom

I definitely support the use of blogging in the classroom, and just like anything else blogging has its place and time. I don’t believe that blogging should be used in every subject in every grade, but there are instances for which blogging would act as a great learning tool. Blogging has the unique quality of making our world a little smaller. Through the use of blogging those ‘far-away places’ are no longer so far away. With the click of a mouse students are able to interact with other students on the other side of the world. Blogs, by nature, can be read by anyone and everyone and this fact encourages students to do some of their best work. Students understand that others will be reading what they have to say and they understand that their blog is, in part, a representation of who they are. Having a blog and being able to share their thoughts and opinions with the world gives students a sense of pride. They feel that what they have to say is important and can make a difference and they have every right to feel this way.

After looking at the Social Studies curriculum, I feel that blogging would enhance the Grade 8 “From Isolation to Adaptation: Japan” unit. Blogs could be set up to allow students to interact with students from Japan. This would give students a first-hand account of what living in contemporary Japan is truly like. Blogging could also be used as a communication tool for students working on a group project on different periods in Japanese society. Using blogging in this way would satisfy two of the ICT outcomes incorporated into the Social Studies program:
8.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:
- access diverse viewpoints on particular topics by using appropriate technologies
8.S.4 demonstrate skills of decision making and problem solving:
- use networks to brainstorm, plan and share ideas with group members

Before implementing the use of blogging in the classroom, teachers must take steps to ensure the safety of all students while they are using the Internet. As a teacher I would take the following actions to make sure that my students can safely participate in any blogging assignments:
- teach a lesson about being safe on the internet:
-> don’t use full names or publish any addresses, phone numbers, school names, or any other identifying information
- make the blog private and only allow access to those necessary
- constantly monitor student blogs, as well as any comments they are giving or receiving
- send a letter home to parents to get their consent for their child’s internet use (if this has not already been done)
- inform parents of the scope of the assignment and steps being taken to ensure their child’s safety
- create a classroom blogging policy for students and parents to sign that includes rules as well as consequences for breaking the rules.

The following links are articles that support the use of blogging in the classroom:
http://www.news.com/Blogging+101-Web+logs+go+to+school/2100-1032_3-5895779.html?tag=st.num

Pay special attention to the following sections in the next article:
- Education and Research Blogs p. 8
- Verbal, Visual, and Digital Literacy p. 9
- Examples of Blogs in Practice p. 10
- Recommendations p. 19
http://www.soc.northwestern.edu/gradstudents/huffaker/papers/Huffaker2005_LetThemBlog.pdf