Article one: Blogging

Education Professor Starts Free Blogs for Principals. By: Archer, Jeff. Education Week, 3/14/2007, Vol. 26 Issue 27, p14-14, 1/5p; (AN 24412461)

Poling, C. (March 2005). Blog on: Building communication and collaboration among staff and students. Learning and Leading withTechnology, 32, 6



"You'd be hard-pressed to find a major organization that's not blogging at some level," Mr. McLeod said of the online phenomenon”. "And yet, this is brand-new for schools (J. Archer, 2007)." The web log or online journal will without a doubt become a mainstay in American schools because of its undeniable educational valuable. Throughout history educators have used journals or dairy writing as a way to force students to put their ideas/ cognitive thoughts into an organized, coherent format. In multiple structures blogs facilitate reflection and communication among students and teachers in the manner that journals and dairies had function for previous centuries. Decades after they have been writing the writings of the world’s leaders are often examined in order to gain new insight into they opinions or logic. Often we are extremely grateful that they took the time to write down what they believed was important at the time. The push to have school administrators’ blog has begun in order to communicate with students and teachers. Principals can discuss important issues for any school and present their thoughts and ideas to all parties involved. To get students into the habit of writing blogs are invaluable tools to educators. Students are often motivated to write when they believe that a large audience awaits their thoughts. “ Students are motivated not only by the use of technology and the ability to type rather than use pencil and paper but also by the audience they have when writing online (C. Poling 2005). “ As students sharpen theirs writing skills and with the ability to communicate with their classmates, students will be more engage in their learning. “As students communicate in the blog, they question and challenge each other’s thinking, leading to deeper and more meaningful interaction than previously afforded during individual journaling (Poling).” The use of blogs in education is currently in its infancy. It is in a likelihood that students will begin blogging at early ages to developing their writing and typing skills. As move from elementary to middle school the will become engaged, motivated workers.