Blogging with Students

The Hedron chapter, Blogging with Students, offers many practical suggestions about how to utilize blogs in the classroom. Each suggestion is really an entire lesson plan, complete with procedures and assessments.



The first suggestion is my favorite - using blogging for closure. This works especially well if you have class in a computer lab (or the library :) ). When I think of blogging, I am reminded of journaling, and this use seems to exemplify that. When I was planning lessons, the idea of real, meaningful closure was one of the most difficult parts of planning. Used in this sense, the students reflect on the lesson at the end of the period. Their reflections serve not only to evaluate their learning for the day but can also serve as an anticipatory set for the next day.



What I liked most was the set of questions in this chapter of Hedron:

• What confused me about today's lesson?


• Summarize the main points about today's lesson?


• What new stuff did you learn today?


• Write the most important aspect of what you learned today.


• Based on what you learned, what do you need to review before you feel you understand it today?

I would think that students could pick a few of these every day. To expect them to answer all five would take some time. Not that taking time to reflect on learning is bad, but in a 40 minute class, I really would not want to devote more than 5 or so on closure.

I also liked the idea of using a blog as an art or reading portfolio. As an art portfolio, each entry could focus on one piece of the student's work. There would then be the opportunity for other students to critique or comment. Using the blog as a writing tool, students could either work with a partner or small group to compose a story, each contributing entries. A student could also use a blog as a creative writing portfolio, building stories or having each entry be a different piece of poetry or writing sample.

Blogging with students is a great idea. Anytime students realize that their work will be public, they are encouraged to do their best. However, having students publish their work on the web also brings up several other points, centering around how to do this safely and responsibly. I think that each school should have some sort of social media policy that students should be taught and expected to follow.

Ellyssa Kroski's article, Should your library have a social media policy (2009), offers several things to consider when drafting one. Even though most of the suggestions seem to be business-based, many can be applied in the library as well:

• use a disclaimer - the opinions are your own...not the school or the district or whatever


• do not share private information


• respect copyright


• respect other students and staff


• avoid online fights


• make sure the information you post is accurate


• use good judgment


• provide something valuable

Students do not always understand the ramifications of posting something online. A policy that they must follow will ensure safe and responsible blogging.

Hedron, J. (2008). RSS for educators: Blogs, newsfeeds, podcasts, and wikis in the classroom. Eugene, OR: ISTE.

Kroski, E. (2009). Should Your Library Have a SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY?. School Library Journal, 55(10), 44-46. Retrieved from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts database.