Blogging in the Classroom

After learning about and creating a blog I think that it can be a very useful tool in the classroom. Blogging offers a simple and informal way of communication from the teacher to the parents and students. I think that setting up a class blog should be used in addition to parent newsletters, but that they shouldn't take the place of them. Most families now have some form of internet access but it may not be on a daily or weekly basis.

Blogging offers teachers a way to post pictures, videos, and presentations made by the class available for parents to see. Not only can you post student generated material but links to articles, or podcasts that you think parents may be interested in. It is a good way to keep parents up to date with what the class is working on.

The con to having a class blog is that it is an additional responsibility for the teacher to keep up with. It seems to be easier with practice though. When I first started blogging it seemed to take me much longer. Now that I am familiar with the layout it is pretty simple.

After reading Heather Rodger's EDM 310 blog we seem to have a lot of the same ideas. We both came in blind as to what a blog was all about and in the end have decided it can be a very beneficial classroom tool. I enjoyed reading about the schools and teachers she had communicated with as well as her outlook on the podcasts we had watched and listened too.