The use of blogs in education is a terrific tool to integrate technology in teaching practice to foster students’ learning. I totally like the idea of using it as an effective learning environment for diary entry as a tool of communication between study groups beyond the traditional classrooms. Some learners may not be active participants inside classrooms, so it is motivating for them to practice collaborative learning and discussion. When used properly, blogging can meet students’ needs and their love of modern technology applications. They daily work with computers and surf the web pages, so integrating it into education will make sense.
This tool can help students learn in a helpful modern environment in a 21st century education system. As well as supporting curriculum and instruction, a blog can be a key instrument of assessments. It also enables teachers to focus more on innovative teaching.
How I intend to use blogs in my class:
I can use blogs as a complement to my existing work at school. I can create a blog with contents linked to the pedagogy in addition to other extra motivating activities. It will foster students’ learning as I can post class requirements, assignments, handouts and so on. The shared posted materials can be accessed at school and at home, Students respond at any appropriate time to be to collaborate effectively. When students send their comments, they collaboratively help each other to construct their knowledge.
I’m interested in making it work as a portal to extra activities to develop student’s English language learning, like reading comprehension passages and stories and reflect on them and it can be as a step to creating their own ones. Therefore, they provide a space for students to develop their writing skills. It isn’t necessary for learners to be in the same grade, it will be wonderful if students from older classes collaborate and help the younger ones to share thoughts and learn from each other. It’s very helpful to post my students further assignment activities to work on. I think that some learners will not feel worried if they know that they are not graded. Students will find it very enjoyable when they are posted some references to other interesting content like online interactive games and activities to enrich their information and enhance learning. What I want to do is to challenge my students when using such activities to inspire them participate interactively and enhances their literacy skills.
Students can also work in groups on projects or to research on specific topics covered over the semester and write findings discussing and commenting on each other. Then they can be engaged in peer learning as well as performing academically. They can write about a certain beneficial topic they may like and they reflect and discuss together sharing their opinions.
To improve students’ higher-thinking skills, I can post them challenging brainteasers which require them to think cooperatively and critically to solve a problem. They may like the idea of equity of roles since they work in a group and have equal opportunities to share their thoughts. They will improve their writing skills. In addition, I can get feedback and information about their progress.
Blogs have a very important advantage; the archive feature which help to record the students’ work and their ongoing learning. They can keep an eye on their advance and monitor how they developed their thinking and writing skills. Blogs are regarded a digital portfolios to record and protect students’ work. This feature can greatly help me easily evaluate them and facilitate analyzing their work as I have a reference. Another important feature is content refreshment as I and my students could add different pages in varied categories and increase and change their content. It can be easily updated. The commenting system is very important.
In addition to posting the class news and study hints, parents can stay in touch with their sons’ instructors to be informed and more engaged in their children’s education. To enhance home- school connections, parents can share and send their comments, the matter which can help them be informed about our classes and build such an outstanding community. Moreover, it is fruitful when teachers provide advice to each other, share thoughts, ideas for teaching, lesson plans, and useful educational topics with other teachers and reflect on them to share experience productively.
Moreover, I can teach my students how to set up their own blogs, after their parents’ and the school’s permission, in which they can post interesting content and how they have to comment properly on each other’s posts. I have to let them realize the importance of their published words and the responsibility of writing, so they can practice writing and respond to each other considering ethics and respecting each other’s point of view.
For more awesome ideas to make Blogging educationally sound for teaching and students:
It will be wonderful to give the chance for them to participate and feel that their voice can be heard in a different way, especially for those who are shy to participate directly with their peers. In addition, they feel motivated and enjoy their feelings of identity and self –efficacy and their ownership over their own learning. This creates a wonderful space of discussion and creative dialogue to interact flexibly. They will feel impressed to see how much progress they have made by working collaboratively and interactively.
Blogs ensure real opportunities for students to share ideas. They help enhance scaffolding their learning and the feeling of responsibility towards their learning. I just offer the needed instructional tips, and then they start develop their research abilities independently. It is a great tool to engage students and strengthen the bonds between them and their teachers inside and outside classrooms via interactive communication. The easy use and application of blogs has made it possible to reach a great potential of success in delivering the posts to viewers through flexible resources. With the help of some great blogging platforms to start with, especially the free ones, I don’t have to be an expert to make my blog see the light. Using blogs has really added to my professional and digital skills personally as well as hoping to develop my students digitally.
Egyptian Educators 