Lesson plans are very important to the success of instruction. There are some teachers that have published their lesson plans online in how they use weblogs. I have one suggestion of how I introduced Blogs in a very structured high school science class. Use index cards (to simulate Blog postsor a online discussion forum) and have students create a question related to the topic you are discussing in class. Pass around the index cards and have students write their feelings or ideas about the topic. You are right, students that are not familiar with Blogs as instructional strategies have the idea that it is just free time online. It does work, but you have to set-up your students well before throwing them into a computer lab. Try it, they will like it.

Lesson plans are very important to the success of instruction. There are some teachers that have published their lesson plans online in how they use weblogs. I have one suggestion of how I introduced Blogs in a very structured high school science class. Use index cards (to simulate Blog postsor a online discussion forum) and have students create a question related to the topic you are discussing in class. Pass around the index cards and have students write their feelings or ideas about the topic. You are right, students that are not familiar with Blogs as instructional strategies have the idea that it is just free time online. It does work, but you have to set-up your students well before throwing them into a computer lab. Try it, they will like it.

I do a class website anyway and am planning to incorporate a weblog (already set up) to make for a more transparent classroom experience and to further communication with students.

But I would love to see what I can do in addition in a content area specific way. I teach history, rather than english. I am not sure I can justify time spent in a computer lab to get the students en masse to start their own weblogs just for this.. though the wheels, they are a-turnin’.

I haven’t had the opportunity to blog with my students yet, but I have definitely learned a lot from my own blogging. I have experienced the kindness of strangers over and over again as they comment on my blog and offer their opinions or their expertise. Gradually those strangers have become part of my world. I commented on someone’s blog just the other day that my blogging buddies are the people I bounce teaching ideas off of and with whom I share my concerns. The sense of community is truly amazing. Blogging has enriched my life in ways I could never have imagined.