Blogs (weblogs) can be regarded as online diaries or journals, according to Vacca & Vacca (2008). They provide a digital medium for teachers to monitor their students' literacy and academic progress. As a collaborative tool, blogs facilitate class participation where a teacher or a class can set up a blog, wherein every student can have his/her own "blogspace" for making and sharing comments to contribute to class discussions. This aspect of blogs I find to be especially helpful for the more reticent students and for those who lack the confidence to speak up in class. With blogs they can find a "voice" with which to express themselves, thus enabling the teacher to make assessments that would not be possible in a verbal forum.
Atkins, Battle, Nicholson & Caverly (2008) point out that blogs can be used to promote critical reading, thinking and writing. These skills are essential for literacy in a "Web 2.0 world". It appears however, that blogs are not appropriate tools for reading intervention with students who are experiencing challenges with word level aspects of reading such as phonics, phonemic awareness and basic sight words. Unfortunately, many of us in this MEd programme are grappling with the task of assisting students with such issues, both in the primary and secondary schools. Nevertheless, as reading specialists, we shall be mandated to train other educators to help their students at all levels in developing their literacy. As such, we can instruct our colleagues in the use of blogs so that hopefully, they will become more effective in their classrooms.
To me bloging is reminiscent of journal writing in which the students are not limited by the mechanics of the writing process such as the sentence structures, paragraphing and so forth. However despite this I think that the opportunity to write is a plus. Some may argue that the mechanics is important and it definitely is, I agree but I think that it is an opportunity to get students to write.Bev I do agree that the students get an avenue to express themselves and what they think and it's free (no publishing fee and a wide audience).
ReplyDeleteI do agree that blogging is a great online tool for teachers. As you have mentioned, it may prove to be a challenge for the struggling reader, but we must think of the possibilities that this tool extend to us. Blogging presents the opportunity for teachers to keep parents informed of what they are doing in the classroom. Teachers can also share with their colleagues ideas, strategies and any tidbits they find interesting. It is a great classroom management tool where assignments can be posted, and students are free to check at anytime.
ReplyDeleteAs an online journal or dairy, it will assist students with their spelling and grammar, since these errors would be highlighted by the computer.