1) Blogs are not free–they require access to technological apparatuses including (but not limited to) A computer-like device with internet software and connectivity, electricity, etc.
2) Valuable class time is required to teach blog set up, procedures, and etiquette, taking away from actual content knowledge time.
3) Support (particularly from parents and administration) for the blog genre as a credible pedagogical tool may be unsubstantial.
4) Ethical issues involving research-content censoring and entry/comment censuring must be addressed. (Keep in mind, teachers in this day and age have send waivers home to allow students to view video content if anything presented in the video could be constituted as offensive)
5) Publicity. If control measures are not accounted for and taken, all content on the internet is public domain and people outside of the intended audience may make posts (if allowed), comment/flame (if allowed), modify, etc. content or elements of a page, anonymously even (if allowed... think bathroom walls) which could lead to humiliating or inappropriate experiences.
All in all, is it really worth all the trouble? As a future English teacher, I'd rather have students compose their thoughts/arguments (think broad definition) with pen and paper (or optional printed formats) and have them provide feedback in class in groups in a "safe" environment. The blog can be a useful feature of the "virtual" classroom that replaces my "classic" methodologies with distance learning work-arounds, particularly with mature participants. Perhaps reading more posts on the issue (or comments) will help me see benefits to the blog system. I invite comments.
Now, in my opinion, a class blog encourages collaboration conceptually. The class blog links all members of a group together, allowing for convenient exploration of individuals' blogs as well as providing a forum for said members to discuss such topics as this very controversy (again, broad definition). A class blog also encourages collaboration by providing a level of anonymity where contributory content is judged for what is present (without the added implications of physical appearance, skin color, gender, sexuality, etc.) allowing for potentially "freer" discourse from individuals. And the class blog encourages optimal collaboration by allowing individual contributers to find a chunk of time that works best for themselves.
3 comments:
Boo to no editing :P. Sorry for the extra words and bad syntax that appear in my post.
I posted something regarding incorporating collaborative blogs in English classrooms...
I think that blogs are NOT ideal for in-classroom settings, and should NOT replace in-classroom activities... However, they are IDEAL as a collaborative forum outside of the class (although remaining under your aegis as the teacher).
As far as some other concerns; yes, I think as the teacher, you would need to establish some guides and regulations. I would consider blogging as a lesson in participating in a democratic forum. Perhaps this could be the initial lesson, with responses discussed in class... I.e., based upon the nature of your blog participation, what do you see (concretely, IN THE CLASS) are the problems of blogging? Underrepresentation, overrepresentation, disrespect, etc. These are precisely the problems encountered by democracies (and, over the past decade or so, of the public school inclusive idealized HALO model)...
(I think I have an idea to post up!)
I agree with your opinions on access. I took the question posed in class to reflect on how it would help our particular class, where we are all able to access the internet and computers. However, when it comes to using technology in public schools, access is a very real issue, especially for those communities with high poverty and homeless incidence, like Makaha/Leeward Coast, where I'm from.
Pop-culture would like us to think/believe that every kid/teen has a cell phone or access to a computer at school or library, but this isn't the norm in places where socio-economic issues often factor into availability of technological resources.
Many families can't afford to pay for cell phone service, don't have a reliable means of transportation, or, may live in a homeless shelter without computers or on the beach with no electricity.
These are real problems in my community and some of the kids experiencing these issues will likely one day be in my class. The question I have for myself is, how will I ensure that I am providing them with the tech tools needed to compete in the 21st century and still be fair with regards to accessiblity and access?
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