Blog Post 1_2009101_Use of Blogs in Education

Blogs are being used for many different online communications such as journals and portfolios. They are a way to connect diverse learners in various locations. Blogs can be used to inform others and the community, e.g. a news blog, while with a newsletter, everyone can contribute. Blogs are a way to archive and get students thoughts and ideas.

In education, blogs can be used as journals, documenting experiences. Steve Danko in his blogs called "The Central Archives of Historical Documents in Warsaw" (October 2, 2009) wrote on his travels in Warsaw, Poland. He wrote about his trip and meals. One of the accounts he told was his experience in a milk bar and how he read about it but never really understood what it was until he experienced it. The prices were unbelievably low for the quality and quantity of food. Steve told how milk bars used to be a common sight in Poland but now is becoming rare. You can learn about different cultures through someone else's experiences. The pictures that were posted are also a way to see through the viewer's eyes.

Another way blogs can be utilized is through the form of a newsletter. An example of this is the Kendall Campus Library News (September 27, 2009). The newsletter is a great way to share information with students and the community. It can inform readers about events, information and resources that are available. On this site there are contemporary art exhibits in a virtual gallery in Uruguay. Visitor can view art works and get more information about each work. There are also instructions on looking up books in their online library catalog. There is a lot of useful information available on newsletter blogs.

Another way blogs can be used by students is reflecting on their work and communicating with others. When reading Stephen Downes' "Educational Blogging" (2004) students were able to communicate and motivate each other. He also mentions how a group of fifth graders were blogging in their schools giving them more experience in writing online and learning new skills. When they reach high school or even college level, these students will be more experienced in writing. Mr. Downes also states that teachers in Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, New Jersey were experimenting "with technology to communicate with students and parents", and they would "archive and publish students works". What a great way to inform our community about what our students are doing in the classroom and to be able to see and share that with others.