At first, I thought the topic of educational blogging would simply focus on educators sharing their ideas from the classroom on a website to show friends, family, colleagues, and other teachers out there new ways to teach different lessons. However after looking into it a bit more, I found that blogging can have so many more great purposes.
By incorporating blogging into the classroom itself and requiring the students to blog, it can improve many of their skills that will most certainly be necessary outside of the classroom. For example, they would practice writing, typing, using technology, and even reading as they create and share blogs with one another. These skills will indirectly expand. This is beneficial because often, it may seem as if teachers do not have time to specifically teach these skills (especially in the upper levels when the curriculum becomes more complicated). However, educators will still be able to focus on the necessary content while also they blog. Blogging also allows students to communicate with one another and the teacher. The ability to post comments facilitates the processes of collaboration, sharing ideas, and asking questions. Communication is most certainly an important skill necessary for the 21st century. In addition, as the year continues, students are able to look back on their previous posts and see how their writing has changed.
I think blogging would be a new way for me in the future to have students discuss a cultural unit in a Spanish class. Perhaps we are discussing Day of the Dead (Día de los muertos). I can incorporate blogging into many different activities, such as sharing links regarding the day, asking questions about this celebration, and having students write their thoughts. I also think that it would be a great way to practice grammar. Students can write blog posts about a past vacation, what their plans are for the weekend, etc. to practice the different tenses in a realistic way - by blogging.
Overall, blogging is a great activity to include in the classroom, as it is extremely beneficial to both the teacher and the student while incorporating technology in a simple, engaging way.
Paraphrased from Support Blogging, December 20, 2013, http://supportblogging.com/educationalblogging/
By incorporating blogging into the classroom itself and requiring the students to blog, it can improve many of their skills that will most certainly be necessary outside of the classroom. For example, they would practice writing, typing, using technology, and even reading as they create and share blogs with one another. These skills will indirectly expand. This is beneficial because often, it may seem as if teachers do not have time to specifically teach these skills (especially in the upper levels when the curriculum becomes more complicated). However, educators will still be able to focus on the necessary content while also they blog. Blogging also allows students to communicate with one another and the teacher. The ability to post comments facilitates the processes of collaboration, sharing ideas, and asking questions. Communication is most certainly an important skill necessary for the 21st century. In addition, as the year continues, students are able to look back on their previous posts and see how their writing has changed.
I think blogging would be a new way for me in the future to have students discuss a cultural unit in a Spanish class. Perhaps we are discussing Day of the Dead (Día de los muertos). I can incorporate blogging into many different activities, such as sharing links regarding the day, asking questions about this celebration, and having students write their thoughts. I also think that it would be a great way to practice grammar. Students can write blog posts about a past vacation, what their plans are for the weekend, etc. to practice the different tenses in a realistic way - by blogging.
Overall, blogging is a great activity to include in the classroom, as it is extremely beneficial to both the teacher and the student while incorporating technology in a simple, engaging way.
Paraphrased from Support Blogging, December 20, 2013, http://supportblogging.com/educationalblogging/