Week 3 – What’s Your Blogging Philosophy?
Philosophy and Rethinking Blogs in Classrooms
Why do you want to blog? What purpose will it serve? If a parent were to ask you to explain or defend your use of blogging, how would you answer? How could you explain the power of blogging to a teacher at your school to get them interested in the platform?
In this course we have been looking at different ways to tweak settings and templates, but now comes the time to ask yourself if blogging is for you. What can you as an educator bring to blogging?
Research time:
There is much discussion in the blogosphere about the purpose and reason for using technology in education. Read the following blog post by Will Richardson: http://weblogg-ed.com/2009/digital-inclusion/ or this post by Jim Moulton http://www.edutopia.org/blogging-purpose
Take a look at this blog post, “Thoughts on Assessment,” from a teacher on what she learned through the class blog: http://www.teachandlearn.ca/blog/2009/02/20/thoughts-on-assessment/ and this interview with a middle school ELA teacher: http://www.edutopia.org/student-blogging-classroom-tips
Take a few minutes to look through these lists of educational blogs. Be sure to look at blogs from several different topics.
- http://edublogawards.com/2008/best-teacher-edublog-2008/
- http://oedb.org/library/features/top-100-education-blogs
- http://www.teachingtips.com/blog/2008/06/30/50-must-read-up-and-coming-blogs-by-teachers/
As you go through the blogs ask yourself:
- Who is the audience of the blog?
- What information is being presented?
- Is the best way to present the information?
- What can you learn as a blogger from this blog?
Post your summary and reflection to these questions on your blog in your Week 3 Reflection Post.
Write your own philosophy
Now that you have had time to look through more educational blogs, and read some insight into the use of technology and it’s purposes, what is your opinion? Should you blog?
Write a blogging philosophy statement that you can share with anyone who might ask about or question your use of blogging in the classroom. Depending on your role in education – think of an administrator, colleague, parent, and/or student as your audience. As you write your statement keep the following questions in mind:
- Who is your audience?
- What are they gaining by the blog?
- Why is blogging better than not?
- What are you bringing to the blogging platform as a educator?
- What is your commitment to blogging?
Thank you for all your hard work in this course and be sure to ask if you have any questions as you continue your blogging experience!
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6 Responses to “Week 3 – What’s Your Blogging Philosophy?”
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Since we’ve been searching through educational blogs, the main audience has been educators and stakeholders in education. I did find a really neat blog from a 1st grade class. Each one of the students had their own postings, which I found incredible and inspiring.
Its interesting that you posted a blog by Richardson, b/c I’m currently reading his book, “Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms” (2nd ed.). I think an important factor that was brought up in his blog was that, as educators, we need to realize that though the content we are teaching is extremely important, we also need to teach our students to be life-long learners. In today’s society, that means that we need to use these tools so that our students are prepared and able to find answers in the future.
I also found a blog that was skeptical of IWBs, and they had some interesting things to say. It was the first time since taking these classes that I felt that I had something to say about the topic. Others that I have read are very interesting and I’ve picked up new info., but never responded. I guess I feel a bit intimidated by the responses that I’m reading…maybe that’s just b/c I’m a novice:)
I’m beginning to believe that Jennifer and I are the only ones still working on this assignment. There doesn’t seem to be as much discussion going on as we had in the beginning blogging course but maybe that’s where we are at this point.
I would still like someone to help me set my countdown clock and keep it set to a certain date. Anyone out there that can help me?
Lost track of time due to my increasing depression at seeing the countdown to students coming back;) Where did the summer go? Please come back:) Speaking of the timer- John, I tried to create one to add to my blog, but couldn’t get it to work. It would never actually show up. I’m guessing that I’m missing some code some where, but I’ve tried repeatedly with no success. I’ll try and play with it again and see if I can get it to work. If you figure it out, please let me know!
My blogging philosophy (rough draft):
I believe that it is important for everyone to become familiar with and utilize blogs because today’s society is on the expressway to high uses of technology in our professional and personal lives. Blogs allow everyone to be a writer, have a voice, and reach audiences both locally and internationally. Popular magazines, such as the New York Times, USA Today, and the BBC are not only making their articles available online, but encouraging readers to comment, ask further questions, and even correct what is being written through the use of blogs (Richardson, 2009). In an educational setting, it allows educators and students to communicate freely and collaborate, which is an essential skill for our students in future careers. My goal for blogging in my classroom is to develop a community of writters, free thinkers, and collaborators. Not only do I want this for myself and my students, but also for my students’ parents. This would be another avenue of communication, but not only with an individual, but with all of the parents.
Richardson, W. (2009). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Jenn – That is a great philosophy: to develop a community of writers, free thinkers, and coloaborators.” Class and student blogs will definitely encourage students in these areas. I’ll try to get a post on your blog soon via email!
John – Sorry, I haven’t played with that particular widget. I’ll check it out, though.
Jennifer – I love your insight. I believe that if you really think through using blogs you will find a more meaningful purpose for your use of blogs.
John – One thing we have learned in this course is that we need to build in more required comments on the class blog. Relying on individual blogs causes a breakdown in the discussion. I appreciate the feedback and hopefully we can work on this for the second time we offer the course.
Severla people have had issues with the countdown timer. I’m still trying to figure that issue out. Stay tuned!
To everyone else – hang in there and I look forward to reading your philosophy of blogging.
Robin
I enjoyed reading everyone’s philosphies. Unfortunately on some blgos the comment section was not working well, maybe a victim of the template changes.
There was some great thought given and I look forward to keeping up with y’all as you implement what you learned!
Robin