Required Reading # 2: Blogging and RSS – The “What’s It?” and “How To” of Powerful New Web Tools for Educators

I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging for this class. Blogging gives you a sense of self-expression that I believe cannot be achieved by simply keeping a journal of class activities. This article gives many great ideas of how to use blogs in the classroom. I believe blogs are a highly engaging activity (speaking from personal experience!). For example, instead of students keeping a daily journal on a class novel, they could keep a blog on the novel where not only could their teacher interact with it at anytime, but peers could also comment and interact with the blog as well. Will Richardson’s example of the class that blogged about a book and the author joined the discussion is remarkable and one of a kind. This experience for the students is like none other that could not have been achieved without the use of blogs and current technology. I also believe using Weblogs as digital portfolios is an outstanding idea especially since many colleges require students to submit applications and portfolios online. Of course Richardson made a great point when he said teachers should respect students’ work when posting it on the Internet. It is nice to know that there are software programs out there that address these concerns. RSS is also a neat application. I enjoyed setting up my own Google Reader in class. Richardson also had some great ideas of how to implement RSS feeds in the classroom. His idea of using Weblogs to keep tabs on students by simply adding students to your own RSS is great. I am completely convinced that these are two important tools that can and should be used in the classroom.