Blogging in Education

I am a firm believer that learning should not be made exclusive.  Why would I keep what my students are learning in the classroom a secret?  The benefits of blogging in a technology-driven world are becoming more and more apparent.  As a teacher, I can blog about my classroom and reach those in a way that could not possibly be in my own physical classroom.  Posting about projects, discussions, readings, and limitless other topics will make those around me excited to learn!  Just a visual picture gives those outside of the classroom a glimpse into the world of learning for this germinating generation of students.  My blog could become the attention of parents, schools districts, teachers, local and foreign communities, and my professional superiors!  If that isn’t considered a learning tool, then I don’t know what is.  The internet is the driving force for current events.  We must make people excited about learning in this new technological era.  A classroom blog based on what I’m teaching is the exact opposite of an exclusive education.  A teacher’s blog can show their dedication and even serve as a personal growth journal for all that has been accomplished over the course of the school year.  With a blog, the world is my classroom.


Blogging from the student’s perspective is just as important, if not more.  Using a blog as an educational tool has proven to be an excellent guide to extended learning.  Claims on improved writing, reading, communication, technological and self-reflection skills have all pointed in the direction of creating student blogs.  Why? Blogging is more relatable, more characterized, and more fun than your average homework or class presentation.  In Michelle Lampinen’s article, Blogging in the 21st-CenturyClassroom, she speaks about how blogging gives students “the freedom to experiment.”  The article states one of the main factors of the successfulness of a student blog is that it gives learners a reason, other than pleasing the teacher, to write.  Their work receives attention from the online gold mine of potential audience members.  Their blog could be read worldwide.  Other benefits that the pro-blogging article writes on is the tendency to hear more from the introverts in a classroom, as they tend to speak up more on the internet.  Blogging can be “adopted to every grade and subject level” and be used as a review tool or even a study guide.  A student blog can become a personalized yearbook, unique to every student based on their academics, extracurricular activities, and the best of their “school days” memories.  With a blog, the world is their classroom.


Work Cited:
Lampinen, NBCT Michelle. "Blogging in the 21st-Century Classroom." Edutopia. George Lucas Ecuational Foundation, 08 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.

Comments

  1. Thanks Morgan, for letting us all learn a bit more about you. Does working at Starbucks make you love coffee or are you tired of it from being around it all the time?

    You did a good job of hitting on the many benefits of blogging for both the teacher and the student. On the student side, also think about global awareness, connecting to others outside of the class, and Internet safety and etiquette.

    Here's another article on blogging that you might find interesting. http://blog.whooosreading.org/5-benefits-of-blogging-in-the-ela-classroom/

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    Replies
    1. Working at Starbucks willl NEVER taint my love for coffee! To be honest, it has just made me VERY picky over how I like my coffee.

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  2. I love how passionate you are to share your students' growth and success with the world! While many teachers might hang up their students' work in the hallway for the school to see, why limit it to just that, right?

    I found it interesting that you mentioned "making people excited about learning in this new technological era." I feel like students are less interested in learning now more than ever because of how easy it is to access information due to technology. However, if we as teachers can still manage to get them excited about school and learning, then half of the battle is already won!

    Here is another article dealing with blogging in the classroom that you might find beneficial! https://elearningindustry.com/how-to-use-blogs-in-the-classroom

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