Blogging with Blogger

This chapter of The Digital Diet discusses the importance of using blogs as a technology output. The chapter discusses what blogging is, how to create a blog account using Google's Blogger, and why blogging should be used in the classroom. The chapter is pretty simple and basic for the avid online writer. It details all the ends and outs of the terms associated with using online blogs. To think about a blog, I would compare it to a journal, just a blog is electronic in format and usually hosted online for others to read. The idea is simple. The intention is simple. The concept is simple. It just takes the motivation of the user to intentionally use this type of writing for a specific use. In the case I would be interested in, that would be education.

Education and blogging have a relationship that if cultured, the product will be that of intent  purpose and great results. I think blogging in the classroom provides a twist to the traditional written assessment that many teachers use today. I am not saying that written activities should not be included in the day to day instruction, but allowing students the opportunity to get on a computer and type out their thoughts would be nice. Simple as that. Typing allows students to output what their brain is processing at a faster rate. For me, I would rather type something versus writing it out with pen and paper. It seems to go faster plus my audience can actually read what I am saying.

In the classroom there are several ways that the teachers can use blogging. The book provides an example of using blogging as a form of journal writing. There is not much to that scenario other than the fact that students get to publish their material on the web versus in the traditional format. Some other ways I can see blogging be used in the classroom would be that of a way of creating an online portfolio or database of all types of publishable material. That way students can have all their documents with them wherever there is an internet connection.

Blogging should never replace the writing curriculum wholeheartedly, but rather supplement it as an incentive to foster proper writing skills. Students still need to learn the fine motor skills that go along with writing. Blogging works the fine motor skills in a different way. With the rate technology is being integrated in the classroom, I am fearful that students might get away from writing and more to blogging on day to day bases. This could happen, but I do not see it happening anytime soon.