When using blogs in the classroom, the constructivist approach to teaching or the idea-based approach to teaching would facilitate the best results with blogging while a teacher-centered approach would likely not have a positive or useful effect from blogging in the classroom. Blogs are meant to be collaborative in nature, customized, as well as social, and these ideas are supported by both the constructivist approach as well as the idea-based approach to teaching and learning. Teaching that is directed and controlled by the teacher such as in a teacher-centered approach, does not elicit enough freedom to students in order for them to be creative or functional enough to be as successful with blogging.
When considering a way to adapt a Web 2.0 tool to meet a need that it doesn't necessarily address (e.g. using a blog to help students learn their math facts) I thought about perhaps allowing students to blog about their successes and difficulties with the subject matter that they are struggling with in an effort to connect and learn from others who may share similar trials and tribulations. After all, blogging is collaborative and social, so if learning a new way to try something is all it takes to master or even gain some needed confidence with a concept, then ultimately the Web 2.0 was successful even when at first it didn't appear to have any relevance.
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Something you might want to consider for math, would be to have the students explain how they solved a problem in a blog post. The wonderful thing about blogs, is that they make students think deeply, before they commit themselves to a particular comment.
ReplyDeleteHaving students write what they are struggling with or doing well with is a great idea. It might get the kids that are shy to communicate their struggles or successes in ways that they might not in front of the entire class. I think blogs will be new and exciting to students also, they'll be interested in using them.
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