Blogging has become a new way to collaborate and interact with people from all over the world. It is just as popular as social media websites. It is evident that the world today has evolved into a digital technology era. I recently read an article, Blogs vs. Term Papers in the New York Times Newspaper by Matt Richtel and it really inspired me that we have to change our traditional methods of teaching and incorporate technology (Richtel, 28). One professor at Duke University wants students to blog rather than write term papers (28). Imagine that! This made me realize how relevant blogging has become. As educators we have a responsibility to prepare our students for the digital world. Students are already computer savvy, and as educators we need to take them to the next level. Blogging encourages students to feel more passionate and free about writing their thoughts and feelings on paper.
I never thought I would be blogging for a graduate class. In fact, this is my first time blogging. As a future educator, blogging is a valuable tool that will make learning relevant for the 21st century. Richardson expressed in his book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts that blogs help students become more media and information literate, teach about networks, and teach collaboration and information management skills (Richardson, 37). Blogging unites people and helps create a more collaborative world. For instance, Jeremy Lin, a recent basketball player on the Knicks has everyone blogging on facebook about what a phenomenon he is. This illustrates how blogging has become the future. There are so many positive aspects of blogging that what is the down side? As educators, there are many outlets to explore that will help educators incorporate the blog or other forms of technology in classrooms. The school districts or communities even have workshops to teach about the implementation of blogs in classrooms. Educators are beginning to adapt to this new world of technology and sometimes it can be daunting. However, students enjoy using the computer and find activites such as blogging interesting and engaging. Educators have the responsibility to engage students in activities that utilize technology such as blogging.
Click Here to read Blogs vs. Term Papers
Richtel, M. (2012). Blogs vs. Term Ppaers. New York Times Newspaper. Retreived from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/education/edlife/muscling-in-on-the-term-paper-ktradition.htmlr=1&scp=1&sq=term+paper+blogging&st=nyt
This YouTube clip further illustrates how the current trend in
education is leaning towards a digital technological world.
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThe notion of students blogging instead of writing term papers is fascinating to me - so foreign yet so intriguing! I think the fact of the matter is that we can still get students to think critically and reflectively and to articulate their thoughts in writing, just using a different, more relevant medium. You can still stress organization, voice, citations, etc. in a blogosphere. Blogging term papers would also allow students to incorporate different media into their reports (videos, voice, pictures, etc.) that are not traditionally found in term papers. This is very progressive (and I like it!).
A great transitional way to incorporate blogging into the classroom is to have students post their traditional papers to a blog or class chat and have students read and comment on others' work. You are still maintaining the integrity of the paper/essay, but are also allow students to publish their work in a more collaborative way.
Your post and the article really made me think critically about how and why I have students complete writing assignments. It is important for me (and other teachers) to really choose the best medium for writing and publishing.
-Ellen
The video at the end of your blog post really hit home for me about how crucial it is going to be for me to incorporate technology into my classroom. One slide of the video said “We will be preparing students for jobs that don’t even exist yet.” Wow, teaching has come such a long way. I feel that in the past teachers were believed to be people with all the answers and students were “tabula rasa” or blanks slates ready to absorb everything teachers had to say. This is not the case today; teachers are taking classes so that they can better understand things (technology) that most students are already experts at. Like you said “Students are already computer savvy, and as educators we need to take them to the next level.” Teaching has become a two way street between teachers and students and in order to be good teachers we also have to be good learners.
ReplyDeleteYour post really made me stop and think. It made me truly understand the responsibility I will have to my future students. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Kristin
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great video! Yes, I agree, it really is important for teachers to employ strategies like blogging to bring students into the digital age with their writing. Does that mean we should eliminate more traditional methods? Teachers of writing need to think carefully about the purpose of writing assignments they give and the purposes students will have for writing in the future. Blogging does allow for certain forms of analysis, but research papers are also still useful in other ways. If nothing else, technology offers teachers options and the impetus to make well thought out decisions.