Incorporating Blogs in the Classroom

It is difficult for me to think about how I would incorporate blogs into my classroom because I will teaching math to high school students. However, I would probably use the blog as a way for students to help other with homework assignments as long as they aren't simply giving each other the answers. Perhaps, I would allow former students of mine to go onto blogs and become tutors in a way. Instead of having to meet me or another student after school, they could simply blog about their troubles online. Since many students have clubs or sports after school, it would be easier for them to talk about it online when they are at home actually doing the homework.

An interesting idea that I thought of for integrating technology into education is for English teachers. English teachers assign novels for students to read, and students often must take a quiz or test on that book. Tests and quizzes are not popular with students, so English teachers could create a blog for the book and have the students discuss the book online. They could post a list of questions that they want answered about the book. The teachers should require students to comment on what they think of the book, the characters, and other topics. Teachers do not have to use a blog for every book, but to give students a change of pace, teachers need to sometimes use devices that interest kids (a.k.a. the computer).

The advantage to having students blog about an assigned book is there is less paperwork for the teachers. If the English teachers require a (paper) journal, then it is extra weight the teachers need to bring back and forth from home to school and viceversa. If they use the Internet, they can just go on the Internet at home or anywhere(if you have a smart phone) to check if the students are doing their assignments. Another advantage is that students can complete their journal assignment on the weekend because the teacher can make the comments or discussion due on Saturday or Sunday.

The disadvantage to blogs is that students could take advantage of the fact that they will be able to complete assignments on the Internet. The students would constantly ask to push back assignment due dates. Another disadvantage is that students could possibly not read the book and ask their friends what to write as a comment. A balance of both written in-class tests and blogs would be the best solution.