Reading Selection # 2

Colombo, Michael W. and Paul D. Colombo. "Using Blogs to Improve Differentiated Instruction." Phi Delta  Kappan 89 (2007): 60-63.

My second article selection was entitled Using Blogs to Improve Differentiated Instruction. As soon as I read the title of the article I knew it was one I needed to read. Blogging can be a beneficial technology in a class room, and I am sure that is one of the main reasons we are blogging our article reflections. By blogging our responses it gives us an idea of how to set up and maintain a blog. I wanted to read this article to see what other ways I could use a blog to benefit my class.

The most memorable part of the article for me was the examples it gave of a teacher and how she used her blog. They gave descriptions of how blogs can be used to reinforce strategies, introduce new topics and concepts, review important class points, review for tests, and provide enrichment. It then went into details about how the teacher, Ms. Daniel's used her blog. She used it to post discussion questions in which students could respond to, study guides that outline key points, and also included links for advanced material for those students who wanted to explore more on the topic.  

I don't know if I learned any specifics on blogs themselves, but I definitely got an idea of how to use them in a classroom. I guess I knew that blogs did not have to be all writing and that they often have audio and video files that go with them, I just never thought about using them in a class. It did give me the idea that teachers could set up blogs and post the information students need for homework test and quizzes. Teachers could also post links for even more information on a specific topic if students wanted to get more in depth on a certain topic.

What i learned about blogging definitely could make my class more efficient, effective, and engaging. It would give my students a chance to use technology to find new resources and to learn in different ways. As long as all my students had access to a computer. I could use a blog to reach all my learning styles. I could post information in writing, audio or video to appeal to all my learners. I could also give assignments and study guides to help my students keep up in the class. If the students had access to the Internet at home it could also give their parents a chance to stay involved with the students school work. Blogging possibilities are almost endless, and although a lot of work, could be very beneficial to your students.