Blogging in Education

http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml

This article talks about Blogging-or Web logging as a new teaching tool used not only in the middle or high school, but in the elementary classrooms. I was very interested to read about how students as young as kindergarten now blog in a variety of new, exciting ways, since I will be an elementary teacher. It provides information how elementary blogging works, what topics elementary students cover in their blogs, software and tools to consider and very important safety tips to get started.

New technologies are changing education. Blogs are beneficial as a new learning tool; it can encourage writing, journalism, and improve communication skills. Educators know that students write better when they have a real audience and with the use if the Internet students can write to a real audience.

I believe in the educational benefits of online access. It has the potential to be transformational technology for teaching and learning. The opportunities for communication and self-expression to Internet provides are bringing benefits to everyone-especially children. Blogging is an exciting and doable activity even in the elementary grades. We have to admit, there are risks involved with letting kids online. We have to educate students and parents about blogs and how they should and should not be used.

Blogging has become firmly established as a web based communications tool. It used to be a medium for the publication of simple, online personal diaries and now has the capacity to engage people in collaborative activity, knowledge sharing and reflection. Further research could be to explore the potential of blogs as learning spaces, explore methods of using blogs for educational purposes.