Being part of the Blogging commmunity

It has been an interesting journey so far in ICT. Sharing my thoughts and reflections with the outside world. Learning new skills and collaborating with others. 
What are my thoughts on blogging in context to teaching?
 
image courtesy: www.fairviewmb.ca

•  Through blogs students are able to communicate and interact with the outside world.
• Can exchange ideas, opinions with others.
•  Develops a new set of skills and attitudes
• Teachers can communicate with parents and students
• Anything that is beneficial to the student can be posted such as assignments, homework, suggested readings.
• Can be linked to the internet which is related to their topic
• Class discussion can take place
• Greater social interaction and gives confidence to students and gives a voice to all students irrespective of who or where they come from.
• It is easy to use
• Encourages students to express their thoughts in writing
• Improves their written expression skill
• It can be used as a group blog where individual students research and contribute to a part of the topic which put together covers a whole topic
• Feedback is provided

 
      image courtesy:  webpages.uah.edu

•  Cyber bullying through comments
• If not scaffolded properly will not have the desired result
• Time consuming
• Needs to be constantly updated 
• Can be misused if the safe and ethical guidelines are not followed
• There needs to be a focus 

  
image courtesy: www.probitas.net 
 There are more advantages to disadvantages in using blogs as a learning tool. As teachers we are able to communicate with both the students and their parents. Class newsletters can be posted. Parents are able to contribute to their child's learning. Students learn responsibility. Blogs are engaging.

Here is an example of a teacher being unethical with her postings on the blog.