Capitalizing on Emerging Technologies: A Case Study of Classroom Blogging
MacBride, R., & Luehmann, A. L. (2008). Capitalizing on Emerging Technologies: A Case Study of Classroom Blogging. School Science and Mathematics. 108(5), 173-183.
This case study about using blogs to supplement instruction was very inspirational. The blogs used in Mr. K's class provided a place for extended reflection & discussions, enrichment, and promoted student collaboration & peer support in a student-centered environment. It was clear that through blogging, the students increased their exposure time with the content. Blogging also allowed and encouraged interactions with people outside of the classroom. The positive side of this was that the study showed that because the students had a "real audience", they were motivated to do their best work. The caution (as stated at the end of the article) was that participating in a public domain comes with responsibilities, and cautions regarding safety and being appropriate. Over-all, it seemed extremely beneficial and a fun and effective way for students to learn.
I knew that teenagers are always online chatting with their friends, but I was not aware, until I read this article that "...(51% of all the blogs developed and maintained are by individuals ages 13-19)."
I was also very surprised that the researchers, who gathered data for this case study, could only unearth 17 classroom blogs. Is this because they were strictly looking for blogs that were developed for high school age students, or because there are truly no blogs which have been created for school age children?
I was delighted to read the comment Mr. K. made about collaborative learning and that he feels students learn best when they interact with each other, rather than just listening to the teacher lecture.
I was also impressed when the article talked about how blogging can encourage students to take risks and ask questions, even anonymously. Many of my special needs students are afraid to ask questions because they feel that they are stupid. This would be a wonderful way, for students, to find answers to their questions without anyone ever knowing who they are.
From the outside, blogs appear to be a very student centered learning environment, but I am a bit leery about there effectiveness and safety with younger students.
I love the practical suggestions that this session gave. I have read a number on blogs and never really found a practical way to use them. I feel as if I could do this in my classroom using Mr. K's ideas as a guide for setting up parts of my own blog. I definitely feel as if it would take a while to get it really set up with everything that you want to be there.
I love the prospect of having students engaged in discussion so much that they are open and easy to get to know in the first few days. Plus this is a great tool for synthesizing the information that is presented in class.
Lastly, our reading and la department has been talking a lot about differentiation lately, as well as RTI, and this would be a great way to do that. There would be notes for students who needed them, review sessions, plus enrichment activities and games. With my new technology classes this year, I have found that there are a few students who want extra things to do, websites to play with, and assignments to complete. Enrichment is necessary and blogging can help do that.
I agree that this would be a great way for teachers to differentiate learning for students and especially now since RTI is beginning to take form in our school district. However, it does appear that it would also take a lot of time and I don't feel that teachers, at least at my school, would follow through with this type of learning. They also do not have the training that we are getting. Not being a classroom teacher I am not sure myself how I could use a blog, but I am always open to suggestions.
It is extremely easy to see the many benefits of classroom blogging - but how much time would the teacher have to be online outside of class, in the evening? I, like Norma, also wonder if there are any reports of blogging with younger kids, too. Every article, etc... that promotes the wonderful results of classroom blogging has studied high school & college age students.
I too would like information on blogging with younger students. I started reading this article but stopped because high school is so far from my K-4 environment.
I found this case study to be comprehensive in terms of providing effective uses for the blog in instruction by promoting reflective thinking, peer support, extended learning, and interactions with people outside their classroom community. Mr K had well thought out uses for the blog. I especially liked the digital stories. I asked my 15 year old son if he would use blogs for education and at first he said no, but when we discussed more of the article, he could see using it for debates, or for his current study of conspiracy theories. He thought his classmates would interact in this way. I also liked the way Mr. K pointed out that by using the blogs, the information doesn't just flow in one direction, and that the blogs help his students construct knowledge. I also agree that students could be brought into the class discussion so much quicker during the day because they had been thinking and responding and building rapport. I am not sure about a blog being public, but Mr. K puts up a good case for global learning. I could also see using his concept of a "scribe" in the class to help the struggling student have one more opportunity to digest the material. The most important part of this article to me was that although blogging is not difficult, the realized benefit depended largely on how thoughtful the teacher planned and made decisions as to the content and method of the blog. Some things never change.
Like Leanna mentioned using the blog with younger students might be difficult. I had to ask my teenage son what he thought about some of the articles before I understood how I could use it with 5th graders. I too am still weary, but I am beginning to warm up to them. Leanna, I thinking with younger students, they could post a blog on say butterfly stages that others could see and comment on. I would imagine that it would take heavy parent involvement. What do you think?
Norma, Your insights about learning being social match mine. I guess I struggle with how little time my 5th graders have and how much they still need their parents. So to add the blogging even though I see many neat features about it would concern me. Let alone the police-ing I would need to do. I do think it would give them one more time to digest and reflect about the information. Like the article said, we need to hear/do something 6 times to get it into our memory. Do you see that with your students?
I believe that the use of technology will definitely help the LD students grasp specific concepts, however, they will need something repeated more than 6 times. It is more like 106 times.
I agree that I do not think that a blog should be "public," because people might not be as open and feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. In addition, I think that kids can develop their ideas and collaborate more if they had opportunity to discuss topics and concepts in and outside of the classroom.
11 comments:
This case study about using blogs to supplement instruction was very inspirational. The blogs used in Mr. K's class provided a place for extended reflection & discussions, enrichment, and promoted student collaboration & peer support in a student-centered environment. It was clear that through blogging, the students increased their exposure time with the content. Blogging also allowed and encouraged interactions with people outside of the classroom. The positive side of this was that the study showed that because the students had a "real audience", they were motivated to do their best work. The caution (as stated at the end of the article) was that participating in a public domain comes with responsibilities, and cautions regarding safety and being appropriate. Over-all, it seemed extremely beneficial and a fun and effective way for students to learn.
I knew that teenagers are always online chatting with their friends, but I was not aware, until I read this article that "...(51% of all the blogs developed and maintained are by individuals ages 13-19)."
I was also very surprised that the researchers, who gathered data for this case study, could only unearth 17 classroom blogs. Is this because they were strictly looking for blogs that were developed for high school age students, or because there are truly no blogs which have been created for school age children?
I was delighted to read the comment Mr. K. made about collaborative learning and that he feels students learn best when they interact with each other, rather than just listening to the teacher lecture.
I was also impressed when the article talked about how blogging can encourage students to take risks and ask questions, even anonymously. Many of my special needs students are afraid to ask questions because they feel that they are stupid. This would be a wonderful way, for students, to find answers to their questions without anyone ever knowing who they are.
From the outside, blogs appear to be a very student centered learning environment, but I am a bit leery about there effectiveness and safety with younger students.
I love the practical suggestions that this session gave. I have read a number on blogs and never really found a practical way to use them. I feel as if I could do this in my classroom using Mr. K's ideas as a guide for setting up parts of my own blog. I definitely feel as if it would take a while to get it really set up with everything that you want to be there.
I love the prospect of having students engaged in discussion so much that they are open and easy to get to know in the first few days. Plus this is a great tool for synthesizing the information that is presented in class.
Lastly, our reading and la department has been talking a lot about differentiation lately, as well as RTI, and this would be a great way to do that. There would be notes for students who needed them, review sessions, plus enrichment activities and games. With my new technology classes this year, I have found that there are a few students who want extra things to do, websites to play with, and assignments to complete. Enrichment is necessary and blogging can help do that.
I agree that this would be a great way for teachers to differentiate learning for students and especially now since RTI is beginning to take form in our school district. However, it does appear that it would also take a lot of time and I don't feel that teachers, at least at my school, would follow through with this type of learning. They also do not have the training that we are getting. Not being a classroom teacher I am not sure myself how I could use a blog, but I am always open to suggestions.
It is extremely easy to see the many benefits of classroom blogging - but how much time would the teacher have to be online outside of class, in the evening?
I, like Norma, also wonder if there are any reports of blogging with younger kids, too. Every article, etc... that promotes the wonderful results of classroom blogging has studied high school & college age students.
I too would like information on blogging with younger students. I started reading this article but stopped because high school is so far from my K-4 environment.
I found this case study to be comprehensive in terms of providing effective uses for the blog in instruction by promoting reflective thinking, peer support, extended learning, and interactions with people outside their classroom community. Mr K had well thought out uses for the blog. I especially liked the digital stories. I asked my 15 year old son if he would use blogs for education and at first he said no, but when we discussed more of the article, he could see using it for debates, or for his current study of conspiracy theories. He thought his classmates would interact in this way. I also liked the way Mr. K pointed out that by using the blogs, the information doesn't just flow in one direction, and that the blogs help his students construct knowledge. I also agree that students could be brought into the class discussion so much quicker during the day because they had been thinking and responding and building rapport. I am not sure about a blog being public, but Mr. K puts up a good case for global learning. I could also see using his concept of a "scribe" in the class to help the struggling student have one more opportunity to digest the material. The most important part of this article to me was that although blogging is not difficult, the realized benefit depended largely on how thoughtful the teacher planned and made decisions as to the content and method of the blog. Some things never change.
Like Leanna mentioned using the blog with younger students might be difficult. I had to ask my teenage son what he thought about some of the articles before I understood how I could use it with 5th graders. I too am still weary, but I am beginning to warm up to them. Leanna, I thinking with younger students, they could post a blog on say butterfly stages that others could see and comment on. I would imagine that it would take heavy parent involvement. What do you think?
Norma,
Your insights about learning being social match mine. I guess I struggle with how little time my 5th graders have and how much they still need their parents. So to add the blogging even though I see many neat features about it would concern me. Let alone the police-ing I would need to do. I do think it would give them one more time to digest and reflect about the information. Like the article said, we need to hear/do something 6 times to get it into our memory. Do you see that with your students?
Kathy,
I believe that the use of technology will definitely help the LD students grasp specific concepts, however, they will need something repeated more than 6 times. It is more like 106 times.
I agree that I do not think that a blog should be "public," because people might not be as open and feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. In addition, I think that kids can develop their ideas and collaborate more if they had opportunity to discuss topics and concepts in and outside of the classroom.
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