Due to the relaxed, conversational genre blogging provides, students will most likely be more open to reading and writing in the context of blogs than textbooks and workbooks. Students already utilize the facebook/myspace quizzes constantly and maybe this could easily transition them into a more purposeful internet experience like blogging.
While reading blogs, it is crucial to remember that the content is not usually fact, but instead is the writer's opinion created through their passion about the subject at hand. The reader should critically engage in the article so as not to become indoctrinated.
Blogs are most useful when readers contribute to the blog by responding in a meaningful way. This interactive aspect of blogging engages the readers in learning. This causes the readers to turn into writers as they inquire for more clarification and also converse with others who are posting. This ability to collaborate empowers all readers/writers to take ownership and develop their own resolve about the subject as is supported by the following blog: http://anne.teachesme.com/2007/01/17/rationale-for-educational-blogging/
This type of learning is much more beneficial to the students than the traditional rote-memory type learning because it fosters critical thinking and individual response. Therefore, I agree with the Fisch in his blog regarding the need for teachers to become technologically minded; hence my participation in this class. http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-it-okay-to-be-technologically.html And I am impressed with his school's list of class websites!
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"While reading blogs, it is crucial to remember that the content is not usually fact, but instead is the writer's opinion created through their passion about the subject at hand. The reader should critically engage in the article so as not to become indoctrinated."
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely one of the new literacies, too. To be able to critically read and assess the content not merely by the words written, but to investigate who wrote them and why. That is one of the scarier parts of the Web 2.0 world - everyone and anyone can publish! That needs to be a fact that is repeated to our impressionable students over and over again.
"Blogs are most useful when readers contribute to the blog by responding in a meaningful way. This interactive aspect of blogging engages the readers in learning."
I'm so pleased to see the word 'meaningful' in there! Simply clicking on the comment button and writing "Great post!" is not meaningful commentary. It does nothing to stimulate further conversation whatsoever. When blogging with students is handled in the right way, it can become an incredibly powerful learning experience that prods students into using the higher level of Bloom's Taxonomy.
Very thoughtful post!