Educational Uses for Blogs
In the 21st century educational environment teachers need to “own their own learning first” (Richardson, 2010, para. 4) becoming connected teachers who foster student learning where “teaching is a team activity” (para. 2). An effective way to encourage a connected learning environment is through the use of educational blogs, connecting the student’s school learning environment to their home learning environment. Students can access the blog at school while also extending their learning environment to home access, encouraging a learning community that includes the student’s home environment.
Since a blog can accommodate information in various formats, such as, text, video, audio, and pictures, blogging assignments can address multiple intelligences while providing a relevant and enriched learning experience for all students. A blog, for a teacher, is very easy to set up and easy for the student to use, as long as, the student has access to the Internet through a computer, cell phone or iPod touch.
Teachers use educational blogs for classroom management, collaboration and to encourage discussion of a subject. Blogs can also be used as a reflection tool to encourage critical thinking, an important skill for the 21st century student. Writing and reading practice are also uses for educational blogs, giving students an authentic voice in their writing. Additionally, encouraging students to blog supports their digital literacy skills.
While blogs can be used for student learning, they can also be used to connect school administrators, teachers and community members, fostering communication on educational issues relevant to all, making the exchange of information and creation of ideas a much more efficient way of communicating.
Glencoe Online. (2006). Education up close. Retrieved from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47
Richardson, W. (2010, March 30). Connected teaching. Message posted to http://weblogg-ed.com/
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