Sharing through Blogging - Impact on Learning

If asked to write a paper on a specific topic with pre-defined outcomes, you may have a student that does well to please his or her teacher or to earn an "A".  Other students may do the paper just to pass the class, while others may fail.  However, ask the student to blog about the same topic, and you may see great results in the connection between your students and the material. 

Blogs and other social media are connecting students in many ways that traditional assignments cannot, as we can be seen in the article Middle school students sharing opinions on their blogs by Amy Crawford.  First, they are collaborative.  And as you learn in basic Ed Psych, collaboration in the classroom can help facilitate knowledge and eliminate misconceptions.

Further, not only can students write a blog, but they can also see other students' blogs.  The thought of peer review is more motivating than a teacher reading what is written.  "'The power of classroom blogging is that students are not merely writing to their teachers, what they think the teacher wants to read, and only for a grade,' Warlick said. 'They are writing with the knowledge that at least their classmates will be reading what they are writing and responding to what they are writing.'" (Crawford, 2010)

Then, you have homework.  Homework that no longer feels like homework as students go home and check their blogs and review other blogs - as social interaction takes homework to a whole new level.  In addition, the blog goes beyond the classroom.  Anyone who views it, can comment on it and contribute to the understanding of the student.  "'They extend learning and collaboration beyond the classroom to anyone that visits the blog,'" said Edublogs spokeswoman Ronnie Burt. (Crawford, 2010) 

Students are able to connect with others from all around the world - gaining greater perspectives on the world around them, from a far.  For example, students can gain firsthand knowledge of what and how it may look like to live near where Hurricane Katrina from students and people who have lived there by reading their blogs.  Instead of reading newspaper articles or a text book, they can gain insight into first-hand knowledge from those who have experienced it. 

Have you implemented blogs into your classroom?  If so, what have been the benefits and impact on learning?  What are the down-falls?

Middle school students sharing opinions on their blogs. Amy Crawford. Pittsburg Tribune-Review. 11/15/10.