The pros of blogging in the classroom definitely outweigh
the cons. Let’s face it kids today are
not exactly nice to each other and bullying occurs everywhere we go. The Internet is a place where bullying is
growing and students become unknowing victims at times. It is imperative for our students to feel
secure in exploring content and find the confidence to respond to real world
problems and make conjectures. I believe
blogging allows students to participate in ways that they would not otherwise
do within the classroom. I also believe
that this controlled method takes away the ability for students to snicker at
one another or put forth judgment on a specific response. Instead they are expected to critique each
other in a more nonjudgmental way. Setting
up blogs in the classroom will allow students to practice the communication
skills needed to deal with bullying or just interact with others
appropriately. Students will be less
likely to post inappropriate comments knowing that there is a record of their
every move. A reflection on blogging
presented by the University of Edinburgh states that reluctant students are
more likely to post comments and even challenge those who are more vocal than
they are in a face-to-face setting.
Blogging just gives more subdue students another medium to join and
share in discussions.
Sources:
Teach Thought. (2013). 6 Pros and Cons of Social Media in
the Classroom. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/6-pros-cons-social-media-classroom/
Cyberbullying Prevention in the Classroom. (2014). Retrieved
from https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/cyberbullying-prevention-classroom.
Engaging learners in critical reflection. (2009). Retrieved
from http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/programmes/elearningpedagogy/engaginglearners.doc.
Hi Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteI agree that blogs are a structured environment for students to reply to each other without ridicule or peer pressure. This is a benefit that I have not seen discussed among our groups yet. I also think blogs can empower those students who are shy and not comfortable speaking in front of others. I could always tell when I had a student that was able to answer all of the questions I would pose to the class but they were just not comfortable talking out loud. I would find ways for them to demonstrate their knowledge and continue to participate without the spotlight and stage fright. I would often guide my intern teachers or teaching assistants to not penalize the quiet students but to find a way for them to be involved in the class discussion without feeling uncomfortable. If blogging was more common then, we would have had a "go to" method. This was a great post!
Jeanette and Nichole,
ReplyDeleteI think the cornerstone of what you both are discussing is the additional accountability that blogging provides. We all know that students must feel safe in order for them to learn (this goes down to their neurology). As teachers we have also had the unfortunate experience of hearing a comment and not being 100% sure where it came from in class. Blogging takes out the guesswork in these situations. It teaches students that they are accountable for what they say and what they put out into the world.
One thing that I am struggling with is the "policing" of a blog. This year I have over 200 students. I would love for them all to blog, but we are looking at thousands of posts and comments. Any suggestions?
Brittany
Hi Brittany,
DeleteI have a few hundred students that I have to "police" on a message board/forum site my school provides for them and I have two courses that can have enrollment of near a thousand students. I have created a Code of Conduct Photostory with examples of acceptable and banned behaviors that is posted in a "Welcome" topic that also keeps course-specific information, such as our synchronous session schedule and hyperlinks to resources for their parents about our course. I have also asked trustworthy students to act as role models for new students and to reach out to (send an email) students who write rude or insensitive comments. Any threads with threatening, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate (and even copyright-protected) content is copied offline and removed from the forum. The content of the post is sent electronically directly to student and parent and a phone call is arranged to have a discussion about this behavior. The second instance results in a temporary ban from the forum. I have rarely had to use the secondary punishment because the first one sends a very clear message. I hope this information helps!
-Nichole
Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteYou bring up some interesting points. Bullying is definitely an issue in every school, but I feel that it is extremely important to address it in both face to face and online platforms. In many ways, bullying is worse online because people can hide behind anonymity. Teaching netiquette and responsibility online should be a huge priority for every teacher, in my opinion. I do agree that with a classroom blog, students might be more cautious in what they "say" because the teacher can trace it back to them. Hopefully, this habit of being polite will follow them to other online platforms as well. In addition, classroom blogging encourages students who may be afraid to raise their hands in class to truly participate, which is a great thing. Very interesting discussion topic!
Jess
Jeanette-
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing up the bullying piece. It's something I didn't even think about. One thing to remember is that it does happen. What we need to make sure is that we also teach the "rules and etiquette" expectations of what is appropriate on the internet. Just like how we do this in our own classroom setting, explicit instruction should also be taught about blogging. This will help in building a classroom online community.
Fatima