Reflection 1: Classroom Blogging

Blogging is an excellent tool for classroom learning. Blogs serve to motivate students to participate in reading and writing. They also create a global audience causing students to put more effort into the work they produce. Instead of producing for an audience of one they are able to use technology to write for readers from around the world.

Blogging serves as a tool for reflection allowing student to share what they learned and how they learned it. Rather than a top down model of education, combining blogs with RSS allows students to have a stake in learning. Blogs also allow for formative assessment. Teachers can gauge student progress from their learning reflections.

I would use student blogs in conjunction with research for students to complete regular reflections on the inquiry process. They could use their blog to share difficulties they have come across, tools they are using for the research process (ie. diigo for sharing bookmarks and creating annotations, easybib for citations, etc).

Outside of the classroom I used blogs to learn to technology tools and keep us with best practices from other Educational technology and media specialists.