Blogging and RSS as Tools for Educators

Blogging and RSS - The "What Is It? and "How To" of Powerful New Web Tools for Educators is an article written by Will Richardson, Supervisor of Instructional Technology in Fleming, New Jersey.  

One of my assignments is to read an educational article and write about it.  I still consider myself a novice in the art of blogging and am discovering what a great tool it can be...for cathartic purposes and for educational purposes, as well.

The article's purpose is to introduce blogging and RSS to the uninitiated and curious educator who is not sure what those terms mean.  The author seems to be "well versed" in the matter and offers his comments on using blogs and RSS in an educational setting.  The boom in blogs apparently is growing and everyone is using it- from homemakers to politicians to entertainers.  

December 2008 was the start of my blogging and I must say I was a tad nervous.  I tried Wordpress and found the instructions too intimidating.  At that point in time my only technological achievement was a powerpoint on Evita Peron.  I know I will never be the world's greatest writer, but a blog allows that chance to anyone.  Everyone offers something...from recipes, to how-to tips, to simple movie reviews.  And that's what I wanted to accomplish.  The Blogger proved to be a great site and has helped me improve in this territory.  I try to change templates on a monthly basis.

As an educator it came to be that blogging could be used in many ways.  Last year, Chelsea and Terence were the "Blog Editors" of our school's blogsite.  It was mainly a place where students could have their written or artistic work on display.  It was great for one year and somehow things happened.  Hopefully it will be resurrected next year.  So, even by a simple work display exercise, the realization of blogging extending to education became a reality.

It is a great tool for collaboration in the classroom.  Simple assignments can be posted for differentiated instruction- for ESL or the reluctant reader and writer.  How creative can a child get by writing about a sumer vacation on a blog and illustrating it as well?  Together with the teacher, the skills needed for good writing can be taught in a blog.  

The RSS is built-in metasite where sites are checked and you don't have to worry about the spam or other "naughty" things that tend to pop up.

The idea of subscribing to a blog allows a child to share his/her thoughts not just in the classroom, but on a global level.  That does sound frightening, but for the digital native, that's a part of life.  Our planet has become so close thanks to technology that our kids have the world and its citizens as a great resource!

I suppose that's why I started a blog.  One of my co-workers said that some of my entries were great to use as examples to show the kids that blogging is a better way to express ideas and feelings than just "dissing" friends.  

I used one entry with my 8th grade Literature class.  I wanted them to describe a trip they had taken- internationally or down to SoCal.  Entitled Fiestas Patronales and under the label of "Are We There Yet?" it describes my reminiscences of a trip to Nicaragua with my mom in 1966.  After reading it, the kids kindly said I was a great writer and I should write a book.  That is the ultimate compliment from a class.  I just wanted them to see that blogging could be fun and make writing interesting if you share something about your personal life.  As an instructor, I am well aware that certain things can be written about; that's why the title's explanations states its mission.

 And yes, this is the time for "shameless self promotion" as I invite you, my Lesley classmates, to check out this blog.  The nice things about blogs...they're diamonds in the rough.