Why use blogs in the elementary classroom?

Personal Reflection

In “Connected from the Start” by Kathy Cassidy, I learned about several key points when using blogs in the classroom. First, blogs give students a real audience, encouraging them to write more carefully because they know others are reading. The author says, “Students write better when they know someone else is reading." I would totally agree, students want to be the best they can be when they know their peers are going to be assessing their work, so they work harder. Teaching students from a young age that feedback is good, and it helps them become better is very crucial. So, the next thing I learned about blogs was that they help students think about their work more in-depth when they get feedback, this then helps them improve to learn more. Finally, blogs allow students to connect with people and ideas outside the classroom, which helps them learn in all sorts of new ways. I also learned in the readings about the importance of teaching students about copyright and fair use, this is something that I don’t think gets talked about or taught well enough so it inevitably happens all of the time because students don’t know any better. It is up to us as educators to teach them how to use others’ work responsibly and fairly, especially at a young age, because if they don't learn it now it will be more difficult for them to re-learn it in the future. Cassidy reminds us that "teaching students to be ethical users of digital tools is crucial," so that they are using the internet safely and respectfully.

Integrating Blogs into Teaching and Learning 

If I were to be asked in a job interview how I would use technology in my classroom, I would talk about the benefits of having students blog. Blogs are a great way for students to share their work, get feedback, track their progress over time, set goals for themselves, and see if they met those personal goals. For example, students could use blogs like personal portfolios where they can track their learning and talk about the process it took to get to where they are now. I would also use blogs to have students connect with their families, this allows students to go back and reflect with their families on what they did in school and start conversations at home. This interaction will help students think more deeply about their learning and take ownership. EdTech also highlights the importance of using technology in different ways that encourage collaboration and creativity. In addition, I would make a lesson about digital citizenship, and talk about it all year, so that I can teach my students how to use technology safe, responsibly, and respectfully.

The Use of Technology to Enhance Learning

Kathy Cassidy’s use of blogs, Skype, and digital portfolios in her classroom shows how technology can be a very positive thing in the classroom and can engage students and help improve learning. For example, blogs give students a real audience, which motivates them to do better work. Kathy Cassidy uses Skype to bring in experts or connect with other students from different places, which helps students see things from new perspectives. She uses electronic portfolios, which allow students to reflect on their learning. Kathy Cassidy says, "Skype allows my students to see other children and experts, which makes learning more tangible." She teaches students about digital citizenship by reminding them that "managing an online presence" is important. By using these tools, she creates a fun and connected classroom that helps students learn in meaningful ways.

References:

Cassidy, K (2013). Connected from the Start: Global Learning in the Primary Grades. Kathy Cassidy.

Ribble, M. (2015). The K-12 Educational Technology Handbook. EdTechBooks.