Blogging in the Classroom

I first started blogging three years ago. Some friends had moved away and we were all moving on with our new lives and we quickly fell out of touch. I heard about blogging and started one up so that my friends and I could maintain our communication over the distance. My experience with Blogging so far has been a positive one and I can see how blogging could be a beneficial thing in a classroom.

To begin with blogging was convenient for my friends and I because we spent much of our time on the computer to begin with. Between checking email and homework assignments it seemed a simple thing to blogger.com and check for new posts and write a quick update. It seems that the majority of students are in a similar situation. As more of our world moves online, what with Msn, Face book, Internet schooling, email and tons of other information, many children and adolescents are spending more time on the computer. A blog could be a very useful tool for a teacher, if properly used. For one thing its easy and convenient for most students to use. As they are already on the computer it would be a small thing for them to click to the class blog to check up on new homework assignments, comment on a peer's project or ask a question. Blogs are very interactive in that it does not need to be limited between a teacher and students. Parents could be involved, monitoring their child's interaction in the class. Other teachers could also be connected; available for questions or comments. While I feel that there is no replacement for one on one interaction in a classroom, a blog opens up a whole new side of education. Online discussion between classmates allows for positive thinking and new ideas. As every student could have a personal blog linked to a main blog, it would allow for teachers and parents to track writing assignments and progress as students thinking grows and matures. Should a student need help a posted question could be instantly responded to by either the teacher or a peer. Blogging serves to take the intimate learning environment of the classroom and put it into a relevant context that students know and understand. A sick or snowbound student could keep up to date by following class discussion and reading links on the blog.

While I am a big advocate for blogging in the classroom there are a few concerns that have been brought to my attention. There are always concerns when children and adolescents spend a lot of time on the Internet and a blog would give them an excuse to spend more time online. But it also opens students up to the possibility of online stalkers and child predators. The issue of privacy is huge. How can students be comfortable blogging and sharing their work online if they are constantly have to worry about sharing too much information. I know that it is possible to make a members only blog, but a computer hacker or programmer could easily find their way around that hedge. There is also the thought that setting up a classroom blog makes assumptions about the socioeconomic status of the class. There may be individuals in the class that don't have access to the blog, except in the school. This could lead to exclusion, feelings of inferiority/superiority etc. My last concern is that I would hate to see blogging or the internet take over the actual classroom. Social skills and personal development happen as students interact with each other and the teacher face to face. Not to mention students are taught to think about others as opposed to just themselves. There is a community aspect of the classroom, that I don't think blogging could duplicate.

Overall I think that there is definelty a place for blogging in the classroom, with the technological advancements of our age it seems to be a force that cannot be escaped. But I do think there is a place for it, as long as teachers and schools are aware of the dangers and make attempts to protect their students.