What are some ways we can use blogs?

The "Information Reformation" (Penrod) 

What are some ways we can use blogs?

Class discussions:

The first thing blogs could be used in is class discussions.  Think about kids on Facebook, Twitter, or even some kind of messaging system, they feel comfortable sharing their ideas that same veil that allows for cyber-bullying can veil students inhibitions to express what they think about literature or some other kind of text. 

Also it can help students form better responses because they have to write their ideas instead of nervously saying "um I like this part because it's interesting....um it reminds me of the time I went to Montana." Students have to check their writing and think about how the other students will react when they read it.  

It allows for students, who are a little shy in class but not in their writing, a chance to show students and the teacher that they really have something to say.  Finally it cuts dominate students down to one comment or at least limits them from being the only person with their hand up to express their ideas. 

 "They (bloggers) take a highly active role in the production of texts and the distribution of information compared to writers in the past." (Penrod)

Authentic assessments

The other thing that blogs can offer is a format to make a portfolio.  We have learned how portfolios can be a great authentic assessment and allow students to show their work and learning in a way that is not high stress and can show progress of the student.  Growth is what counts!  

Blogs are a perfect format for this kind of assessment, and it shows a teacher the media capabilities their
 student has. Our students, at least most of them will be tech-savvy and know how to create a blog that has creative and interesting components.  It allows most students an accessible and inexpensive way to create a portfolio.

 

Informational texts

The next thing that blogs offer is another form of informational texts.    

It is great for students to read newspapers and text books and other non-fiction but blogs, well they offer a whole new world of information.  Some of the people who are writing these blogs are in fact experts in their field and because for whatever reason they blog about their ideas, their expertise, and about the world around them.  

When studying contemporary society blogs can offer information that can be hard to come by and it's easily accessible on the internet.  Those quality, appropriate blogs can also be 
somewhat difficult to locate once found they give students a window to explore their world.