Weblog Struggles
On his Thoughts on EdBlogger post Will struggles with differentiating between using a Web log and “blogging.”
“This is an important distinction for a couple of reasons. One, I’ve really come to believe that the act of blogging can be a valuable way to learn to write more effectively. I know there have been a lot of definitions of what Web logs are, but I’m not sure that is the case with the act of blogging. To me, the process of blogging is, most of the time, an ongoing series of steps:
1. Find and read material that is relevant to your life.
2. Capture the essence of this relevant reading, give credit to its source, and synthesize those ideas into a piece of writing that advances a personal, perhaps greater understanding of that topic 3. Publish that writing for response and for perhaps pushing someone else’s thinking on the subject.
4.Read some more.
It’s a process that I think teaches and practices a great deal of critical thinking, information literacy, research, collaboration and composition skills that on one level I think may be difficult to replicate with any other writing instruction. I know traditional expository writing instruction comes close, but rarely is there the personal interest in the writing that blogging provides. And it is that personal interest that I think helps writers really own the process and make it real, which in turn leads to some real learning.”
Will goes on to wonder if this is really even possible in a school setting. I’m not sure either, especially when many of the things that are relevant to teenager’s lives are difficult subjects for us to just give them free rein to discuss on a school weblog. However, I think we could steer them to issues that should be important to them and work at fostering interest. This is why I think a school-wide focus on current events is so important. A base knowledge has to be built.
The other thing I’m not sure about is whether the students have the developmental skills or readiness or whatever to actually start “blogging.” I think we have to oversee it in our school settings and that means we have to have control and make sure the content fits our curriculum. Of course, I’m coming from an elementary prospective mostly. I’d be interested in what you middle and high school edubloggers think. Next semester we will be letting some of the preservice teachers have reflective blogs during their student teaching. I’m sure we’ll hear their voices!
I am going to try just letting my Wrinkles group explore and then write next week. I’m going to suggest that they think of something they have learned in school this year that is of interest to them and an area that they wish to learn more about. They are so used to not really having many choices of what they will learn and the idea of having a voice is yet again another matter. Just that concept alone is mind-boggling for them. They haven’t had enough opportunities to write freely. Giving them a voice should not be as difficult as it is in our schools. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately and need to contemplate that much more!
Next week I may need to help the students with sites about different topics and let them choose as our time is so limited. Most of these kids don’t have computers at home. I’m not sure they are ready for this yet but it won’t take long to discover that. It wouldn’t hurt to see their reactions, talk to them about it and see what they think. Hmmm, wonder where it will lead…. I just know that when I ask the students the questions, most of the time they have the answers. I just have to figure out the right questions (not so easy) and then listen carefully (again, not always so easy)…..
For now though I’m suspending “weblog thinking” for a few days! I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Let’s all go enjoy our families and friends. I plan to!!
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