Instructional Strategies with using Blogs:
I believe that cooperative learning, setting clear objectives, providing feedback and scaffolding are all good teaching strategies that could work well with using blogs. Allowing students to work cooperatively as they read and comment on other classmates’ posts can really benefit student learning. By setting clear objectives and providing feedback students can adjust and self-correct for enhanced learning. Blogs provide an opportunity to scaffold additional ideas and allow students to express their thoughts for self-reflection.
On the other hand, I don’t think that the didactic or traditional methods of teaching would work as well with blogs. With the didactic/traditional method of teaching the teacher is definitely the “Sage-on-the-Stage” and for blogs I think the student needs to be given some level of flexibility. Students need the flexibility to express themselves and feel comfortable commenting on other classmates’ postings.
I don’t work in a classroom setting but I could see using blogs in my line of work as a means to coordinate with peers in other State offices to further open the lines of communication. It could provide a means for sharing and expressing ideas in the “blogosphere”—a term first coined by William Trammell. I see it as an opportunity to get diverse perspectives from people across the country. What an awesome concept!
Julie, I agree with you regarding the teaching strategies you mentioned that would be well-supported by using blogs as an instructional tool. Students move toward more independent and critical thinking when allowed to work collaboratively and cooperatively with their peers. Sometimes, though, I think it is good for the teacher to be the "Sage on the Stage"...maybe in small doses (haha), and the opportunity for teachers to give feedback - via the blog - may be the perfect opportunity. And maybe the student will listen and think about instruction given by this method.
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