Educational Blog Article Critique

I think this article is wonderful! Not only does it give educators many ideas of how blogs can be used: to post rules, assignments, or suggested class activities, but it tells us why they should be used. Students of these days are exposed to technology everywhere, and blogging is an excellent opportunity to make school meaningful to them. Instead of being a formal lecture, blogging takes the shape of a conversation, because it is their way of expressing their opinions, feelings, and ideas.

This is probably the reason why so many students are into blogging. Several educators from different schools mentioned that once they introduced it to the classroom almost every student started to participate. In the events of September 11, 2001 blogging was also an excellent source, since it provided information and it was as if people were part of the event.

Blogging provides many opportunities for the educational world. For instance, it implements the emergence of a learning community beyond the walls of the classroom, posts could be read by anyone, and reactions/suggestions/ideas could be posted in response. Even a student who is shy and therefore, struggling to participate in a traditional classroom has his or her own space, and it could be as vocal as any other student in the classroom. This also offers an opportunity to improve student's writing skills, since most of them double check their spelling because they know their posts could be read by anyone, therefore putting a situation of equity in the classroom. Definitely it is something that we as educators can use to teach our students!