The Blog
According to WIX, blogs are websites that get regularly updated, which can provide insight into different topics. The word blog combines the words “web” and “log”. Initially, blogs served as an online diary where people could keep a running record of their daily lives. These days, blogs serve a purpose for individuals, businesses, and classrooms.
Blogs are a unique communication tool; they provide a first-person written account without genuine discussion. People can comment on most blogs, but the back-and-forth communication piece is missing. A discussion forum or chat room would be better suited if one is looking for that communication route. A blog is text-based, so there can still be some anonymity, which would be different from a vlog, which uses video to create the content. A blog may be better suited for the classroom since we try to limit how much of our students' identity is on the web.
I see multiple ways a blog could support learning in the classroom. Writing blog posts about Habit 8, “Find Your Voice,” would allow students to explore and express how they would find their voice. I like the blog application for this over a vlog because students are more likely to express their opinions when they can keep their identity covered. Having students write blog posts on finding their voice gives them a vehicle to share their ideas with classmates, the school, and even their parents. It can be hard to share a digital product with parents, but by posting the students' writing online, all parents can enjoy the content without exposing the student's identities. Students can also be self-conscious when sharing in class, especially when there is a vulnerability to their answers. Using a blog allows the students to give a true answer without worrying about what their classmates might say.
Another way I can see using blogs in the classroom would be for the student to write and post their math word problems for the class to solve. They absolutely love doing this on paper and sharing it that way, but by moving it digitally, you can reach more students. I think this is a great application for something that doesn't have a discussion feature because it takes away the chance of someone “accidentally” posting the answer to the question. I also like the idea of them guessing who wrote the problem based on little clues about what the problem is about.
There are many different blog hosting sites, all with pros and cons. For me, it came down to ease of use. I went with Squarespace due to its free trial period, customizable templates, and easy-to-use site builder. I also looked at WIX and WordPress. WordPress seems to be the most used among professional bloggers because it's free to use, highly customizable, and has thousands of tutorials available. I didn’t go with WordPress because it's not incredibly beginner-friendly and has a steep learning curve. WIX was a close second for me. It has no coding required and lots of free templates. However, the free plan has ads that just cause too much visual clutter for me.
