Instructional Strategies

I believe that using a constructivist approach to learning would be a good way to use blogs in the classroom.  This would allow the students to easily update the teacher (who could be a follower and contributor to the posts) on how their projects are going, and what they have learned so far.  It would be an easy thing to do.  Instead of turning in paper work, the student would easily be able to move from one browser or tab to another and quickly write a post in their blog updating on what is going on that day or week in their project.  This would work very well especially in WebQuests and online research projects.

The instructional strategies I believe wouldn't work well with blogs would be traditional approaches in learning.  Teachers who are using traditional methods to teach with paper and pencil, and chalkboards, whiteboards, and even SMARTBoards.  These ways are not necessarily wrong, or worse for learning, they are just different.  It seems that it would be unnessesary for the students to stop writing their assignments on paper or working in a traditional lecture model, and take time to blog.  This just seems that it would be breaking the flow of the learning style and not needed.  It seems that it would just be added to say that technology was being used.  Technology wouldn't be being used in the best way possible.

In my classroom, I have students who are often upset and can't communicate for hours at a time because they can't control their emotions.  I could use blogs to allow me to talk with my students, and allow them to get their feelings out and to have someone to talk to, without needing them to look at me.  Sometimes it makes it harder for students to get over their anger when they are seeing someone's face.  Writing in a blog and leaving it for me to respond to would make the process much easier for some of my students.  They usually don't like to write, but working on the computer motivates them.  This would be a great way to work on their emotions and behavior when we can't work face-to-face.

Thinking outside the box: Blogs are also good communication.  Teachers are already emailing and phoning with students to help with math, reading, and all other homework.  Why not put it on a blog?  Then all other students can see what the teacher is helping one child with, and doesn't have to send out the same email/phone call to 15 other students!