Blogging : A Personal Reflection

I have had absolutely no experience setting up or using a blog. I have learned and have enjoyed learning more about blogging through this blogging exercise. In addtion, I have learned to explore and participate in various blogs that share may interests. Ihave learned that "the " moment-to-moment" publishing aspect of blogging has attracted many to this medium. In addition, the availability and simplicity of freee, ad supported, and open source blogging software has enabled huge development in the number of blogs posted on the internet (Simsek, 2009, p.32)". This computer mediated communicatios tool has captured the attention of the nation wih articles about blogging appearing in The New York Times (Selingo, 2004), The Washington Post (Kinzie, 2005, Walker, 2004). According to Zawilinski, a blog "...is an easily editable webpage with posts or entries organized in reverse chronolgical order. Many different formats for blogs are emerging (Morstensen, 2008), and the features that are used depend on both the blogger and the tools provided by the blog host (Zawilinski, 2009, p.650)". Classroom News Blogs are used to share information and news students and parents. Mirror Blogs allow bloggers to reflect on their thinking. Showcase Blogs are used to post student art projects, podcasts (audio clips), and writing. Literature Response Blogs are common in elementary classrooms.

Institutions are also supporting the use of weblogs as a tool for sharing information about the instructional uses of the technology. Blogging sites like Edublogger, http://www.edublogger.org, and Word Press, http://www.wordpress.com "...give teachers and students opportunities to generate and document classroom content, activities, experiences, and reflections. According to Wang et al. (2008), blogs provide instant Internet publication and encourage interaction between the writer(s) and readers.

I think that blogs facilitate continuity in the learnng and sharing process between the reader and the writer. It is a great medium for collaboration and reflection.

Isabel