Edublog - Student Blogging in The K-12 Classroom

Student Blogging in The K-12 Classroom

Student blogging describes students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 who are using blogs in some way in a formal classroom context. Blogs are a digital platform that provides students with a medium for sharing knowledge and experiences that go beyond the traditional means reading and writing in classrooms. Student blogging is a relative newcomer to the digital writing scene, and appears to have gained ground only in the past 7–8 years. In the past 5 years, however, student blogging has become a relatively common phenomenon in classrooms around the world. This may be attributable to the increase in free blog hosting services that have adjustable privacy settings, and the opening up of school internet filters to a greater range of social media.

The use of blogs in education gives students a global perspective. Teachers from different states, countries, and continents are able to collaborate on different projects and learnings. A classroom in China can collaborate with classrooms in Germany, Mexico, Australia, etc. with just a few clicks of a button. Learning through blogs allows students to take control of their own learning and steer it to their own needs. Students are able to see that opinions and even strategies vary based on location and culture. Children are all different, but a common thread of learning can unite them. The use of blogs in the classroom engages children in learning and using technological literacy that will help them in adulthood.

There has not been a significant amount of research conducted on K-12 students regarding edublogs efficacy. However, anecdotal results discussed by educators have given a glimpse into their utility or promise. There is a general consensus that edublogs create many opportunities for collaborative learning, as well as enhancing the ability to locate and reflect upon work.