Monday, June 25, 2012

Blogging


In Chapter 8, Davies and Merchant familiarize use with the world of blogging and the different aspects of literacy and technology blogs have to offer. The authors discuss how blogs are a new way of looking at the world through social practices. Readers and bloggers alike have become interested in ways to explore interactive texts which is why the use of blogs has become so popular and addicting to those who produce them as well as those who read them. Davies and Merchant states that blogs "blend the personal with the public". Blogs are like online diaries for people who may want to get their own views and ideas out in the world for people to read. Many people are attracted to putting themselves out there through blogs because they do have a secret identity that allows them to freely express themselves without others judging them. According to the authors, these small aspects of blogging is what makes it so appealing to others and let people enjoy reading and writing them 

When reading and writing blogs, it is important to know there is no traditional way to anaylze the texts. Everyone looks at a blog differently and they are not created to be read the same exact way by every person. One of the greatest things about blogs is you can surf the web and the different beliefs and stances on a topic just by clicking through blogs that have common connections .... this has made surfing the web easier for people and more enjoyable. Many people find connections with others through blogs which is one the main purposes people enjoy blogging ... they can connect with others millions of miles away and feel as if they are sitting in the same room.

Davies and Merchant also discuss 3 main attractions of blogs which I have talked about in the upper sections. The first is being able to reach a variety of people .... bloggers are able to spread their ideas and beliefs and those clicking around may stumble upon their blog and read their ideas which for some people gives them immediate gratification for their publication. Second, blogrolls make it easy for people to navigate and surf blogs and the web which I mentioned earlier makes it easier to get through the web and find more information on connecting beliefs. And last, blogs are a social network and who doesn't love a good ol' fashion social network.

I think blogs could work in my teaching age group. I have seen teachers who have blogs on their classroom websites where students are able to blog about what they have learned that day or what is upcoming in their special events calendar. I think having a class blog that parents can read and connect to would make all students feel involved in the classroom and provide a positive atmosphere that parents can see their students interacting in with enjoyment. I think blogs could really be effective even for an elementary school classroom.


2 comments:

  1. Blaise- I think having a classroom blog would be a great idea! I'd actually like to set one up for my classroom next year so that parents may constantly be "in the know" for what is going on in the classroom and what their students are doing/learning. Great job!

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  2. Hey Blaise...I really like your idea and agree that even in younger grades, just having a classroom blog/website could be very beneficial for students/parents. It could help develop a positive classroom climate/community.

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