Using Blogs to differentiate instruction

Since learning about blogs I have discovered that this software makes it easy for teachers to establish class blogs and engage their students in literacy activities. Technology, as we all have realised, seems to have been spawned with our youths in mind, judging by the ease with which they interact with it. While all students may not be fortunate enough to possess a computer at home or even have Internet access, they can still download blog files either at NALIS or in their school computer labs.

My limited experience with blogs in this ICT course has shown me the potential that this software has to offer our capable and struggling readers and writers. Teachers can collaborate and build thematic units of lessons, then instruction can be differentiated to provide the relevant content, while effectively communicating the underlying concepts. Discussions at the class level can be continued during blog time, when the teacher can expand on instructions in a more user-friendly online format. At this point, strategies can be reinforced and important class points reviewed in an enriching manner, thus facilitating written two-way communication containing text, audio and video files (vodcasts).

This type of technology provides additional support for those students whose language skills are not fully developed. Vodcasting gives teachers a tool that can combine PowerPoint visuals and narration when reviewing key points of class lessons; these can then be saved as vodcasts and uploaded for easy accessability by students, parents and other teachers. Luckily, free blog services such as WardPress.com and Blogger.com makes blogging user-friendly and accommodating to everyone. However, teachers need to be knowledgeable and technologically-savvy in order to make class blogging a success. Hence the reason for this particular course and the need for continuous practice in this technological field.