Digital Discussion: Take Your Class to the Internet

This article discussed using blogs in the classroom. A blog is a personal journal where students can write down their personal thoughts, responses, or ideas. Students type their responses into their blogs, and it is published online for anyone to view.

The article discussed how to set up blogs in the classroom and gave five different approaches.
1. Use a blog as classroom management in which the teacher can post handouts, assignments, or summaries of the school day.
2. Use a blog as a learning journal in which the students will document things that they learned that day or things that they found exciting and interesting.
3. Use a blog as an online notebook in which the student can write about their progress or what he/she may need help with. This type of blog might want to be set up so only the teacher can view it because students may not feel comfortable sharing their weaknesses knowing other peers can view it.
4. Use a blog as a class discussion to spark conversation about a particular prompt or topic.
5. Use a blog as personal expression, which is what most people use blogs for. This approach allows the student to write about whatever they want (within reason).

These approaches offer a variety of ways that teachers can use blogs in the classroom. I personally think all of these are great approaches. I think that students may enjoy responding to articles or assignments or creating a journal if they are able to post their thoughts online. I think that if teachers use blogs rather than pencil and paper journals, the students are more likely to be engaged and may put forth more effort. Yay for blogs!!!