Using Blogs in the Classroom

I think that integrating technology in the classroom is an amazing tool. As Mr. Harbeck’s blog showed, teachers can use blogs for assignments, online tutorials, and calendars of upcoming events. By doing this he has given students almost 24 hour access to his class. He can respond to their questions after hours and give students additional information outside of class. This blog solves many classroom problems such as “I forgot what my assignment in math was” when a student is at home.

The downfall of requiring online work as “Don’t feed the Trolls” discusses is that teachers must teach our students how to be responsible and respectful even on a cyber worksite. Teacher must make sure that students are staying on task and not using the internet inappropriately. The teacher must also make sure that their blog is a safe place for students to visit. Children need not to discuss other students or teachers on this blog.

As a future teacher I see the pros and cons of having a blog for my classroom. Some of the pros include; shy students being more active in an online setting, and students that need a quite place to do their homework would do well with a blog. However, teachers can’t assume that all students have internet access at home and if they don’t, how will a teacher provide the same resources to these students? Overall, I do feel that having an internet based site where students can communicate after hours about class out ways the possible negative implications that a blog could have on a classroom.