Using Blogs Effectively

If I'm going to write that teachers need additional support, as I did here then it would probably make sense to offer this kind of support, to the extent that I am able.

Here's one suggestion on how a blog might be used effectively within teaching and learning. The educator, or for that matter a selected student, might post an engaging question as the actual blog post.

Lesson 1: Students could be asked to respond to the question in a three part essay. (A three part essay would start off just as a five part essay begins, with an introduction that contains three key points that could be addressed in the body of the essay. Students would then select one of these points to elaborate upon in a second paragraph. Finally, the third paragraph would resemble the concluding paragraph of a five part essay. Students would wrap up their writing by reflecting on their three points and identifying what they specifically chose to consider in this essay.)

Lesson 2: Students would be asked to respond to at least two essay posts, with a substantive challenge or meaningful question. (In order to ensure that every student receives an equal number of responses, the educator could group students for this activity.)

Lesson 3: Students would be asked to respond to the comments that were made to their comments, demonstrating critical thought and creativity.

This unit would prompt meaningful dialogue that could take place either within or beyond class time - the kind of dialogue that Web 2.0 enables.