Mod 2: Joining the Blogsphere

Hi and welcome to my blog.  This is my first blog that deals with technology and its benefits for students, teachers and parents.  I am a new school media specialist and my classroom will be the school library. 

   This week, I would like to introduce you to the world of blogs.  Blogs are according to Will Richardson, “easily created and update-able websites that allow an author or authors to publish instantly to the Internet from any Internet connection” (Richardson, 2009).  Any one who has an Internet connection can make and use a blog. 

    There are blogs on cats, dogs, movies, books, cooking, and many other topics.  In the K-12 school setting, blogs can be useful for journaling about books read, writing book reviews, keeping up with class assignments/class projects and so much more. The possibilities are endless.

    There are a few ways I would take advantage of using blogs in my school library.  Here are three:

• Use a school media center blog to keep students, teachers and parents aware of what is happening in the library
• Have the students create their own blog on their own or work in teams of two.
• Have the students write responses to a book we read during story time.  They would also interact through their blogs to comment on books we are exploring and reading.

The above ideas would meet the following New York State Standards

Standard 2:   Language for Literary Response and Expression

As speakers and writers, students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for self-expression and artistic creation.

Standard 4:   Language for Social Interaction

Students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people.

Standard 5 - Technology Education

Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.

We have barely scratched the surface on the advantages of blogging.  Stay tuned for more...