Friday, September 7, 2007

Bloggers @ School?

I am all for using technology in schools! I feel that it is an invaluable learning and teaching resource. The fact that ICT or Information and Communication Technology is no longer intended to stand alone in schools, but is rather integrated into core programs, is a testament to the fact that Alberta Education feels the same way. I do feel, however, that blogging at schools, in particular, might be a double-edged sword. As a homework posting site and a record of past student work, blogs work very well. Unfortunately a gray area tends to appear when students post on these blogs. Not all students adhere as strictly to professional classroom standards as others and if an inappropriate comment is made, are there ways to prevent this comment from reaching public domain? Are there screening devices for student blogs? Is there a professional code of conduct for classroom bloggers? Unfortunately, at this time, there are not many safety nets in place and I believe more work needs to be done in this area before student blogging is a fully integrated part of classroom participation.

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