Blogging...

I am new to this whole blogging thing. Although I have read other blogs in the past, I have never had my own before. I am eager and excited to try out and explore this new form of communication and to discover how it will fit into my life.

I am also new to the idea of the blog as a classroom tool. As a future teacher, I recognize the increasingly important role that technology will play in the learning process, but I previously did not consider the blog a possible classroom feature. After reading about the potential academic uses for a blog, however, I have to say that I am an advocate for the use of this technology as a learning tool. I like the fact that the blog gives students and teachers immediate access to each other’s comments and ideas. Contact and communication don’t have to end at the end of the school day. Blogs can be accessed from any computer, at any time, and allow the sharing of ideas, questions, and comments.

Blogs can also provide an opportunity for teachers to give links to important information. Although the internet is an important research tool that provides access to often inaccessible information, students sometimes need guidance in deciding which websites are accurate and usable. The blog provides an opportunity to link students to internet sites that have been approved by the teacher and that provide academic aid and information.

I believe that the most important benefit of the blog as a classroom tool is the fact that they are conducive to parent involvement. Blogs can be accessed from home and provide daily updates on classroom activities, progress, and homework assignments. Parents are one of the most important tools at a teacher’s disposal. Their involvement is often integral to their child’s success. The blog offers an opportunity to integrate and involve parents in the learning process.

Despite my support of the blog as an academic resource, I must recognize the problems inherent in sharing information on a public website. There are safety issues involved with sharing personal information on the internet. Students will need to become aware of these issues and briefed as to what is appropriate to post on a blog.

The blog is an exciting new tool that offers several important benefits to student learning. As technology continues to become a permanent and increasingly prominent feature of classrooms around the world, teachers must find new and creative ways to utilize it for the benefit of students. I am eager to try using a blog in the classroom and excited to witness the results.