Recently I have been introduced to the wonderful world of Blogs. I have found it challenging enough to keep up with Facebook (my friends say I'm a Facebook addict) and the many notifications a day I receive, let alone updating my blog on a regular basis and commenting on my fellow peers work. The major difference when writing on Facebook compared to a blog and the thing that I found the most challenging is the language used. Blogging requires the use of formal language, without the use of abbreviations and Internet slang which is common on Facebook. Alternating between these two different tools has required a lot of concentration to ensure that the right language is used. Often I find myself blogging using abbreviations like 'lol' (laugh out loud) or using emoticons like smiley faces :) and poking tongues :P before realising what I am doing.
Blogs, which I have just learnt is short for 'web logs', are a website where you can post items on a frequent basis that are shown in chronological order. Maintaining and updating a blog is considered 'blogging'. Articles written on a blog are called 'posts' or 'blog posts' with the person who posts these referred to as a 'blogger'. Within a blog, you can include images, text, links to other pages, videos and audio files. Blogs can focus on a topic of interest, anywhere from people's personal experiences to professional topics.
For more information on a blog and blogs in the elementary classroom, watch the following video:
From what I have learnt and discovered about blogs, I think that creating a classroom blog would be an excellent idea. Students would be able to add to the blog regularly by adding images, videos, audios and text. Blogs can be used to; motivate students, especially those who otherwise might not participate, provide opportunities for students to read and write and collaborate and participate in worthwhile discussions. With proper scaffolding by the teacher, blogs can be a powerful tool in the classroom. An important part of creating a blog is the connection that it creates between home and school with students being able to access the blog from anywhere. Blogs can be used as a way of communication between parents and teachers, with parents being able to see what the students are learning in the classroom.
Blogs can be used for any or multiple Key Learning Areas whilst incorporating ICTs which is an important part of the Essential Learnings. The use of this tool would require scaffolding by the teacher with students needing to be taught the importance of Internet safety and what is appropriate to communicate on the web.
For more information on a blog and blogs in the elementary classroom, watch the following video:
From what I have learnt and discovered about blogs, I think that creating a classroom blog would be an excellent idea. Students would be able to add to the blog regularly by adding images, videos, audios and text. Blogs can be used to; motivate students, especially those who otherwise might not participate, provide opportunities for students to read and write and collaborate and participate in worthwhile discussions. With proper scaffolding by the teacher, blogs can be a powerful tool in the classroom. An important part of creating a blog is the connection that it creates between home and school with students being able to access the blog from anywhere. Blogs can be used as a way of communication between parents and teachers, with parents being able to see what the students are learning in the classroom.
Blogs can be used for any or multiple Key Learning Areas whilst incorporating ICTs which is an important part of the Essential Learnings. The use of this tool would require scaffolding by the teacher with students needing to be taught the importance of Internet safety and what is appropriate to communicate on the web.
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