As the tech department moves steadily to get teachers on board the Student Blogging Train, a valid question comes to the surface. And, that question is, “Why do elementary students need a blog?” I hope to answer that question with a series of examples of how students are already using blogs here at AES, and in the process reframe the question to be something like this, “How does the use of student blogs help support the work teachers and students do on a daily basis?”
It is also important to note that student blogs may not be promoted as heavily, if it were not for the fact that students have iPads available to them throughout each school day and that next year most students will have an iPad dedicated to them for personal use. The iPad is an incredibly powerful and intuitive device that students of all age groups can use to make connections. This device alone makes accessing and sharing information a process of relative ease.
The case for Student Blogs:
Communication: They provide a place to document student work. It is an electronic portfolio that can be managed by students and teachers. Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Student blogs provide a venue for storing assessments for ease of access by teachers and parents. Example 1 Example2 Student blogs allow students to share their work and understandings with teachers and peers in the same room as well as with family and friends across the globe. Example 1(scroll down to read the comments) Example 2(scroll down to read comments)
Critical Thinking: Blogs create a place for reflection on learning. Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4. They also provide for extensions of thinking between home and school. Example 1
Creativity: Blogs can be personalized to provide ownership and identity to their digital space. Artwork, photos, or web clips can be added to headers. Example 1 Student work from various subjects and classes can be uploaded into posts to show a students creative abilities. Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Collaboration: Teachers can share resources with students and start a dialogue about application or relevance. Example 1 Other collaborative web tools can be linked to a blog where further collaboration can take place. Example 1
Other points supporting student blogs are:
- Students and teachers can create documents on other electronic documentation software (Evernote, VoiceThread) that can then be linked to student blogs.
- There are many apps on the iPad that allow for easy uploading to blogs
- There is the potential to remove the walls of the classroom and provide students with access to experts and peers around the world.
- Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions can be added to a blog for students to become more aware of direction and goals. It provides them a place to post work that demonstrates their level of understanding. It also gives teachers a platform to give feedback to students.