Using Bloggs In the Classroom-
The way that I would use a blog in my classroom would be used for the students directly. I find that the parents already have so much correspondence from the school that another source may become overwhelming. My blog would be used to encourage dialogue between students. I have considered sharing my blog with a former colleague from another school and allowing her students to participate as well. These activities can foster the ISTE students' standards of creative communication and global collaboration (ISTE Standards for Students | ISTE, n.d.) By encouraging students to participate in learning while using technology, I foster the ISTE standards for teachers. Standard six states that I should facilitate the use of technology in learning (ISTE Standards for Educators, ISTE, n.d.)
Currently, I am teaching grades 6-8 Social Studies which mostly incorporates geography and history, and a small amount of civics and economics. Helmer and Bloch (2010) note that the definition of geography is the study of the people and lands that make up Earth; so, it only seems fitting that we use blogging to reach and study them. “Promoting spatial thinking skills is an obvious benefit. Sharing maps, satellite imagery, and pictures, or directing students to online mapping or geography sites promotes the development of more mature mental maps of the world (Helmer & Bloch, 2010).” Standard five of the ISTE, states that as designers, we create learning activities that are consistent with the curriculum and use digital tools to maximize learning. By providing digital opportunities for students to react, collaborate and interact in a blog these expectations are being met.
As I press forward in this digital and blogging journey, my students will be the very best and become the global citizens of the future.
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