Blog as an Educational Tool
Blogs, short for Web logs, are simply online diaries or journals. But unlike its paper counterpart, blogs not only allow one to publish thoughts but to also attach multimedia files such as photos and video. A blog can be a private online space or a venue where readers can respond and provide feedback. With the onset of blogs, more and more Internet users are being transformed from being readers to writers.
However, educators here in the Philippines, for example, have been slower in adopting the blog technology. One major reason for this is the lack of or limited Web access. Another cause may be accounted to fear of learning. But what others may not realize yet is that blogging offers a faster, easier way to communicate and share ideas. Specifically, you may use blogs to:
- exchange ideas with other educators
- create an online channel to communicate with both students and parents
- share thoughts and additional subject resources to your students
- create an online portfolio of your students' works
- create an online venue for dialogue, discussion on both individual work and group work
Below are some resources to get you started in using blogs as tools for education:
Uses of Web Logs in Education
Scott Leslie, an educational technology researcher and emerging technology analyst, has created a matrix of uses for Web logs in education. View it at http://www.edtechpost.ca/gems/matrix2.gif
Blog Writing Tools
These are websites which require no software installation and offer free blog services:
Some websites allows you to download the software, which you can customize and host in your own school server:
Advanced Blog Tools
Blogging Rubric
Ms. Brenda Dyck, a teacher from Master's Academy and College in Calgary, Alberta Canada, created a blogging rubric that helped her measure and evaluate her students' blogs. View her work at http://www.masters.ab.ca/bdyck/Blog/
Additional Articles About Blogging
Sources:
Dyck, Brenda. Education World. "Log On to a Blog." Retrieved May 4, 2007 from http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/voice/voice123.shtml
NetAlert Limited. "How can Children Stay Safe Using Blogs?" Retrieved May 4, 2007 from
http://www.netalert.net.au/02582-How-can-children-stay-safe-using-blogs.asp
Richardson, Will. Info Today. "Blogging and RSS: Powerful New Web Tools for Educators." Retrieved May 4, 2007 from http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan04/richardson.shtml
University of Houston Clear Lake. "Blogs in Education." Retrieved May 4, 2007 from http://awd.cl.uh.edu/blog/
