Reflection on “Sustained Blogging in the Classroom” by Jeff Utecht Jeff Utecht (K12Online07)

Reflection on “Sustained Blogging in the Classroom” by
Jeff Utecht (K12Online07)

Jeff has an outstanding presentation on the importance of moving Blogs from being “journals” to “tools for conversation.” The most important thing is to allow time for Blogging in the classroom —and not just writing, but also reading. He talks about how Mark Ahlness has included blogs during “Sustained Reading Time” which is excellent and gives equal value to other forms of literature. I was impressed that some of his 4th graders are reading people like Wes Fryer, as well as other students.

Jeff mentions Scott Hossack in the presentation and how he had his students create rubrics to assess the blogs, and also to assist in grading the blogs. When I first listened to this, I was torn. Though it’s important to provide feedback along with the guidance, I worry that giving a grade to a person’s Personal Learning Network can bring the unwanted effect of communicating that the process has reached a “completion” (see Alfie Kohn). If in effect blogging is discussion —a 2-way street— then there is never a finalization to the writing. Bloggers are beginning a conversation that others will add to, and then the blogger often returns to respond and continue examination and discussion. And, in developing a Personal Learning Network, I believe you can take “snapshots” along the way in order to examine its development, but will never be able to call it a finished and finalized creation.

When I saw the rubrics that the students had created, however, I thought most of the categories (on all 3 examples) were excellent areas to consider, improve, frequently examine and plot along a continuum. An area like “Comments/Visits” though (which measured quantity) seems useless to measure because it isn’t really possible to assess the reason why people aren’t leaving comments or visiting. It’s an important area to consider, and perhaps work towards increasing, but really shouldn’t be the motivation to blog or a gauge to measure worth.

Another area of “Sustainability” that I’d like to examine about blogging is: what happens when a student moves on from a teacher that blogs? Or if the teacher retires/leaves that school? What can we do to promote the desire and opportunity for the tool to continue with the student, regardless of where he/she is in the district? How do we further expand the integration of blogging in all classrooms and assure its sustainability no matter what the changes the students, teachers, or schools face?

Technorati Tags: bitbybit, bobsprankle, jeffutecht, k12online07