After reading Diane Penrod's chapter from Using Blogs to Enhance Literacy, I feel even more supportive of using blogs as a writing tool in the classroom. Previously, I thought blogs could be a writing option for students, but Penrod makes it clear that blogs can do so much more. Writing for a blog is a different, more public form of writing than traditional writer's notebooks or student journals commonly seen in classrooms. Since a blog is on the Internet for all to see, there is more pressure for students to ensure they have the correct information and are presenting their material in an interesting, highly readable format. Using blogs as a form of writing easily connects with students using the Internet and similarly themed blogs to check their facts and improve research skills. It seems the "new literacy" of blogs has the potential to help reluctant writers write and become self-directed learners at the same time.
The chapter highlights the benefits of blogs for special-needs students. I had never considered that these students may feel more comfortable expressing themselves in an online environment. It is similar to the protagonist Lisabeth Salander's hacker friend Plague in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is described as an extremely obese man who never leaves his house, but has many friends online where his physical appearance is unimportant. As for students with hearing impairments, I found this website, Hipcast, a fee-based service that allows users to record video and audio clips for blog postings.
Unlike the publishing process that other forms of student writing might go through, blogging makes the act of publishing a piece of writing instantaneous. In fact, I see the "publish post" button at the bottom of my window right now. I think I'll click it.
I agree with your post about how blogs easily connect students with writing and the Internet. They help students who may be shy to express themselves equally. I agree that blogging is the "new literacy" because they help all students, no matter if they are reluctant writers, shy, etc., to become self-directed learners.
ReplyDeleteThe part of the Penrod article that I found interesting was the blogging and visually impaired students. I thought your blog part about Hipcast was interesting. On my blog I talked about audio-blogging and that looks to be what Hipcast is. I think that recording video and audio clips are so benefical to students who may be visually impaired or blind because it allows them the same opportunities that other students have to blog. These tools can be used with other students without special needs to because they are a way for them to express themselves through writing, sound and image.
You have great points in your blog! :)
For students who have low self esteem issues, blogging online is a great tool for increasing their self worth. Especially with followers and comments they can really feel they belong in a community. At the same time, feeling too comfortable in an online community could create social issues in the student's life.
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