Welcome to the Blogosphere

I've dabbled in blogging for several other courses, but I've got to say, I really enjoy blogging independently :) I like that my "voice," quirkiness, creativity, whatever you'd like to call it, can come out as I tackle this digital, albeit authentic, take on authorship. Don't be fooled...blogging isn't so simple for me. It takes more time than I'd like to admit reading, responding internally, synthesizing my wacky thoughts, writing, editing (writing and editing some more, of course!) and finally publishing. Just as Richardson (2010) attests, the unique nature of blogging is the connectivity that follows, the responses that generate conversations across local, state, and international borders, that result in these rich, living documents. Major implications for lifelong learning and the acquisition of those notorious 21st century skills, right?

When I first heard about blogging in K-5 classrooms, I was skeptical: How could a tool of this nature be used meaningfully in an elementary classroom? Heck, there are primary teachers who use KidBlog as a means of generating discussions among their Kinders, most of whom are still attempting to master letter-sound correspondence! And, yet, that's exactly why blogging is absolutely intended for classroom use, particularly for this tech absorbed generation of kiddos! This idea of meaningful authorship, of flattening the classroom walls to continue conversations, of giving a voice to students who may be reticent to share in class, is thrilling. As a reflective practitioner, then, it is my responsibility to master the ins and outs of blogging, before introducing this platform to students.

Take a few minutes to peak at Mr. C's Class Blog, quite an impressive compilation of daily updates, complete with pictures, commentary, and some student video reflections. Make sure to read his Teaching Manifesto - it will certainly tug at your heart strings. What a fantastic way to engage parents, community members, and administrators, while compiling an online portfolio...talk about opportunities for reflection and teacher sharing!

While this is a more sophisticated take on blogging, likely a good avenue for teachers with established classroom blogs and student contributors, quadblogging is a fantastic way to generate a blogger audience among students both nationally and internationally. In a nutshell, quadblogging involves four different classrooms/ schools, including your own, where one blog becomes the focus for a week, while the other students and teachers respond. Neat idea, huh? Go here for a basic description. Did I mention, it's FREE?

I'm curious...Were you an independent blogger before enrolling in EDUC 584? Do you see the benefits of blogging independently before introducing students to this platform? While blogging certainly holds great educational value and real-world relevance, is blogging truly feasible for all educators? Is blogging just another task on an already tight to-do list, or might blogging take the place of another classroom assignment/ activity? Eager to hear your two cents!