The ways we communicate are changing dramatically. Web 2.0 tools have broken down walls and built bridges between people divided by age, culture, socio-economic class, and geography. In the United States, we celebrate and treasure our right to free speech; technology has now provided us with the ability to be heard...loudly.
Blogs (short for "web logs") have allowed individuals to publish their thoughts, observations, and opinions to an almost limitless audience. Now, from the comfort of your living room, you can be an author, a reporter, or a columnist. This "participatory journalism," in part, lead to Time Magazine's 2006 Person of the Year - You!
This shift in how we communicate could be an invaluable asset in classrooms at any level. Blogs, in particular, allow for a new frontier in classroom communication and collaboration.
First, blogs can be accessed both in and out of school. So, the conversation does not need to end immediately when the bell rings at the end of class. In fact, the conversation could continue indefinitely. In addition, conversations on a blog are not limited by geography; students in different classes, schools, states, or even countries can all be a part of one conversation.
Second, blogs provide a written record of the conversation. In any small or large group project, at least one student is given the task of recording the information. When the conversation is done through a blog, all responses are stored and available for later review. And, you do not need to worry about sloppy penmanship!
Third, blogs allow students to focus on ideas, not personalities. Presenting information in front of a class can be, for some students, a very awkward, uncomfortable experience. Some students are so intimidated by public speaking that their voice often goes unheard. Blogs allow a means for students to freely share their knowledge, ideas, and opinions, without worrying about their voice, or appearance, or fashion sense. This can, in some cases, be a life-altering moment, bringing someone from the fringes into the classroom community.
Some educators are concerned about blogs in the classroom because of the possibility of students posting inappropriate material. Most blog sites do allow the author to determine who can see the site and who can post to the site. In addition, the author can choose to moderate comments; posts and comments will only be published with the approval of the author.
Blogger is one of the many available blog sites. It is a free service owned by Google. You can see some examples of blogs created for student communication and collaboration below:
SHS Inauguration Project 2009
SHS Presidential Watch
SHS Constitution Project 2008
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