Reflections on Blog Presentation

I found the presentation on blogging in the classroom to be very interesting, this past Friday. Though this is not the first time I've used such a tool in the classroom, I already feel that this is definately the most effective use I've made of blogs, and it gratified me to see that they were being used in a similiar way in other classrooms, with equal success. However, the presentation did clarify a few things that I was noticing without really making it clear to myself.

For example, the way that blogs allow me to post more direct feedback to all of you guys. I can respond personally to each and every one of your posts, or whichever posts I feel deserve a response. This allows you to see that I'm reading your work, specifically, and thinking about it. It also allows me to engage you guys in a more personal conversation, even if you don't respond to the comment.

Then, of course, the main reason I proposed the use of blogs- to keep all of your thoughts and information together for your research. I think they're doing a great job for that, and I'm having a wonderful time seeing how it's working out.

One of the potential drawbacks of blogging in the classroom is the easy slide into informal chat/text speak that can come up, the presentation warned- and there's another advantage (other than portability) to having you print hard copies of assignments. If you know you're handing in a typed copy, it keeps you using more formal language, so I don't have to cringe at the text speak.

I'm very satisfied with how the blogs are going so far and enjoy very much having this central class blog for all of my thoughts, useful information and assignments.