MacBride, R. & Luehmann, A.L. (2008) Capitalizing on Emerging Technologies: A Case Study of Classroom Blogging, School Science and Mathematics 108 no5, p.173-183.

 

 

    In the educational context, it is becoming increasingly imperative that we work to integrate the vast learning possibilities that the Internet has to offer.  While bringing the Internet into the classroom opens endless possibilities for learning it also creates many obstacles and many dangers.  However, when you not only engage students in an online setting, but also to utilize popular activities such as online social networking the student is able to flourish in this new age of technology.  This article examines one teacher's successful use of blogs in his classroom.

    

    From the finding in this article it is clear that when used properly, the use of blogs, or a frequently updated website with a series of archived posts, it can be a powerful tool for students in the classroom.  The article reported that Mr. K's 11th grade pre-calculus class benefited greatly from the use of blogs. The article found that it was also a excellent tool for engaging the students.  Mr. K set the blog up so that the students had creative control over much of the content.  With this freedom he created a sense of pride and ownership within the class and the students were able to contribute in constructive and positive ways.  It was a great tool not only for those looking for answers but also for those students answering the questions.  This continued a dialog of the subject matter that would have perhaps never been possible in a traditional setting.  At the time that this article was written, there were very few, under twenty, blogs being used in classrooms.  There was also limited studies done on the effective application of blogs in the classroom.

    

    The students were able to refer to the site in the event that they had confusion on a section or that they had missed class.  The students scanned images of their work along with their post and were able to view examples and others students work.  Mr. K set up activities such as challenge questions that the students would work on on the weekend.    

    

    One of the other great contributions that the blog brought to the class was that Mr. K opened to blog to the public.  This increased the students sense of pride and their sense of membership to the global community.  It also helped them to understand the power and importance of the Internet.  The downside of this was that it obviously created security issues for the students. 

     

    There are many concerns and myths associated with the Internet.  These issues range from personal and financial security to the loss of our social skills.  Some of these concerns are valid while other are steeped in anxiety and fear of change.  I am not sure that in all settings the blog that Mr. K used would have been as successful as it was in his class, however it is a great example of how in this scenario, technology was a great mobilizer and opened the learning process in a way not before possible.

  

Discussion Questions

      

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