The Blue Blog

My second attempt to use iTunes was moderately more successful than the first.  Navigating this extensive program finally became possible when I searched for all podcasts listed under education, then selected one that sounded relevant.  It turned out to be a podcast about Internet security, which was wasn’t what I thought I had selected based on the description.  Next, I finally managed to find a podcast about using Wikipedia, but the iTunes program closed in the middle of it.  When I tried to go back and find it, I couldn’t, so I chose another podcast, this one about the use of blogs in the classroom.  It was short, and offered one educator’s perspective on why blogs are such positive classroom tools.  Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted this podcast shortly after listening to it, so I am not able to credit the author of the material at this time.

The podcast began with a comment on the static nature of websites as a medium for classroom communication.  Websites were actually referred to as “old-fashioned” in the sense that they are static and give control to a single person (the teacher) in a one-way channel of communication.  Blogs, on the other hand, were praised for their ability to put some control in the hands of the students, as they write about topics that interest them and interact with each other.  I especially enjoyed two of the uses suggested for blogs- peer review and reporting local events.  While we, as a TE 302 class, used the Writely program to edit documents, blogs could be used in much the same manner as classmates leave comments for each other about ideas and writings.  As a teacher, my only concern about this would be that students would see it as an opportunity to post inappropriate comments or responses that are not constructive in their criticism.  Perhaps, if students know that the teacher is reading these constantly, they will refrain for such behavior and understand that harassment in cyberspace is the same as harassment in the school space.  With the power to view each other’s work comes the responsibility to treat it with respect.

The other use for students’ blogs that was mentioned was the ability for them to comment on local events from their own perspectives.  This would open up the possibility for students to read about the perspectives of others and to become aware of what is happening around them, as well as to have a space to express whatever views they may have.  In my opinion, there are far too few mediums for high school students to express what they think.  Sure, there are school newspapers, but principals have the legal right to edit these and remove whatever they don’t agree with.  As it was pointed out in the podcast, these spaces are not static, but dynamic and allow for expression.  One further positive aspect of blogs was also referenced, but in regards to what teachers are able to do by looking at the blogs of students.  Teachers can evaluate student problem-solving methods by reading their posts and comments and observing what kinds of processes they are using to help each other and to evaluate each other’s work.  This is yet another use for blogs that seems worthwhile and very useful for the teacher as they decide where to move with their lessons and how to help students who are struggling with an assignment.

Mission iTunes accomplished.