Web 2.0 – Part II: Blogging

Last month’s newsletter introduced the Internet community’s increasingly popular buzzword – Web 2.0. Broadband access has increased the speed of the Internet allowing users to be more than just consumers of information; they are now contributors in an interactive environment. Our students (digital natives) have gravitated toward this technology because it gives them a platform to communicate, collaborate, express ideas, and create content. This month, we’ll take a look at one of the fastest growing categories of Web 2.0… Blogging.

The term blog comes from the words web log. Typically, a blog is an online journal about a particular subject; it combines text, images, and links to other blogs or web pages. An important aspect of a blog is the ability for viewers to leave comments. Most blogs are open for the world to see, but the creator can also permit access to only selected users, such as family and friends. Technorati, the “Google” of blog search engines, currently tracks over 60 million blogs!

Why is this important for educators? Two reasons… First, finding the right blogs can help connect teachers with other professionals in their subject area, maybe a teacher in another state or an expert in a specific field of study. Second, blogs can engage students in reading and writing activities that extend beyond the class period.

Millions of blogs, some good, some great, some worthless… how can a teacher find one that is worth reading? For starters, Technorati (mentioned above) is a search engine for finding blogs about a variety of topics and Answers.com has a list of blogs for specific subjects. Discovery Education and eSchool News recently announced the 2006 Education Blog Awards; the winners are:

• Best Classroom Instruction Blog for Teachers: Assorted Stuff
  by Tim Stahmer, an Instructional Technology Specialist for Fairfax County, Virginia Public Schools.
• Best Classroom Instruction Blog for Students: Applied Science Research
  by Frank LaBanca, a Science Teacher at Newton High School in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
• Best Education Theory Blog: Moving at the Speed of Creativity
  by Wesley Fryer, Director of Instructional Support Services at Texas Tech University, College of Education.
• Best K-12 Administration Blog: EduWonk
  by Andrew Rotherham the Co-founder and Co-director of Education Sector.
• Best Instructional Blog for Teachers: MacKenty.org
  by Bill MacKenty, Computer Science Teacher at Edgartown Elementary School on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

If you are interested in having your students blog, there are a number of free tools available. Don’t select a blog based on popularity or even ease of use. The most important consideration should be student safety. Using a blog that is open for the world to see might be important to reach the learning objectives; conversing with an expert in a particular field of study, for example. If you are working with middle school students, a tool that has more security features might be a better choice. I encourage you to consider blogging in your classroom and contact me for additional information.