Blogging has many qualities that are beneficial to the educational world. The endless possibilities allow students and teachers to create, communicate and share information while improving their technology skills. As an elementary educator, I can see blogs being integrated into the classroom as early as third grade. At this age, students are able to use blogs to create and share their wonderful projects. Teachers can expand students' access to relevant materials by incorporating links to their class blog. Under the ISTE Standards, students can be a Creative Communicator. Through their individual blogging, students can publish or present a piece of writing or artwork that conveys a certain meaning. They have the ability to use multimodality in their presentation which will enhance the message they are trying to make.
6c - Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.
6d - Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
A second way students could use blogging in a language classroom is by having them practice their written language. Once students’ are fluent with their typing skills, they are able to get their ideas down faster than with pencil and paper. This allows them to develop and use important communicating skills. Whether they are reflecting on a passage they read or sharing the data they collected, students are practicing their oral and writing skills. Under the standard for Language for Information and Understanding, students will listen, speak, read, and write in English for information and understanding. Blogging can help students surpass this standard.
Key Idea - ESL.E.PK-1.1.1: Language for Information and Understanding
Students learning English as a second language will use English to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information for content area learning and personal use. They will develop and use skills and strategies appropriate to their level of English proficiency to collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts.
I agree that blogging allows students to use important communication skills. Writing for an audience is something that students can sometimes find difficult. The often struggle with finding their "voice".
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why you chose third grade as the starting point for blogging in the classroom. Is there something unique about third grade that makes them an ideal age for it?
ReplyDeleteThird grade is generally the start of reading to learn instead of learning to read, so maybe that played into your thinking. But I know toddlers with digital skills, so why not start blogging in Kindergarten? Just wondering.
When students are in third grade, they are just starting to write more than one sentence as a response to something. I feel that blogging in third grade may allow them to reflect on a book they read and allowing their peers to read their comments rather than just the teacher. They can also be anonymous with their postings so the shy kid in class can share their opinion without feeling "judged"
DeleteI agree with meg, do you think third grade is right for blogging? Isn't human social interaction and face to face more critical at that grade? Is 6 grade more fitting for beginning blogging?
ReplyDeleteI love the title, it draws the readers in!
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome that young students can use blogs because blogs are not just for typing. Like you mentioned, students can post their projects, which can include artwork, powerpoints, or videos.
In response to the other comments, I believe 3rd grade can be a perfect age to get the students started. They don't necessarily need to be using it all the time, but just updates. It's also great to get students interested in educational ways to use technology, instead of just games and texting.
I started letting my students use google docs more for note taking and I realized how much faster we move and are able to discuss content, instead of wasting time waiting for students to write down their notes.
-Julie