Thing 3

The first blog I read was the first one listed, "What's 'Print'?" I found this one interesting because it relates to the research paper and other assignments that I'm currently planning. I like how it presents a new idea, but then it is also open for comments and a forum to consider the idea.

Next, I read the "dy/Dan" blog about not assigning homework, which was followed by two updates. In the second update, the blogger reverses his previous perspective and admits that he now does assign homework, though not very much of it. Unlike other forms of writing, a blog allows the writer to update and revise his/her opinions. In a way, this indicates that a controversial question, such as whether to assign homework, is not clear-cut at any point, but rather that teachers and other parties go back and forth on such issues based on strategies, students, or schedules.

The next two I read, Teaching Brevity (Students 2.0) and Power Point Reform (NeverEnding Search) show reflection on concepts and strategies. They provide access to new ideas and allow collaboration. They also show application of these ideas, to which the blogger can add details in order to present a complete idea of the concept to readers. This kind of blog is certainly helpful for teachers anywhere.

Lastly, I read "An Open Letter About Cyberbullying" on the learning.now blog. This one provided an example of how blogs can be used to vent frustrations and get a message out to the public without being completely public about it. (For example, if you were not aware of this blog, you would not be aware of the objection the blogger expresses...so it's not quite the same as submitting a Letter to the Editor to a newspaper.) Blogs seem to provide an outlet for this kind of writing as well. And I think I find the aforementioned uses of blogs more helpful and constructive than this one, but since it's from a PBS Teachers site, I'm sure it has more to offer than just complaint letters. Regardless, it's clear from these five examples that blogs can take any number of forms, perspectives, and points-of-view. And of course, perhaps the most unique feature is the form it creates and the comments that are possible. Such conversations simply make us think.