While commenting on other blogs and reading comments from others, I've tried to keep in mind the suggestions for making my comments meaningful and providing new ideas to the blogger. This is sometimes hard to do... and in some ways I feel a bit uninformed about what kind of new ideas I would offer. I guess that's all part of this learning process though.
Meanwhile, commenting and observing other blog comments has helped me to see how this type of communication would certainly be helpful for students. Many of my students are accustomed to quick ways of sending comments to each other, particularly through cell phones or social networking sites. But in the context of a blog, they are encouraged to think about new perspectives and develop responses to diverse ideas. Plus, it might help them to learn some form of computer etiquette, in which comments should probably be thoughtful, complete sentences, not just abbreviations and shortcuts. Third, all students should learn the skill of providing constructive criticism, and this skill is often evident in blog comments. Both providing and accepting constructive criticism might help students develop awareness and open their minds.
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I love your thoughts and insights on the usefulness of blogs. I think that you are "right on the money," as we say here in south Georgia. Thinking about new perspectives is so important! Also, the netiquette of responding well and in ways that include and incorporate respect for those who have a different background (i.e. leaving out IM speak to respect those who speak English as a second language.)
ReplyDeleteThere is also the side-effect of providing an authentic audience. Authentic audience means that they are writing for real people "out there" like you have just written this post for me. Receiving comments is a powerful motivator - partial reinforcement, if you will, to keep someone writing and moving.
Students will write volumes for this authentic audience when they'll barely scratch the page for their English teacher. They know their English teacher will grade it and it will end up in the wastebasket. Online it is preserved. And that is also a risk - online it is preserved. This is a risk we should discuss and share with them.
Good luck and keep blogging!
Insightful comments about blogging. You have an acute understanding of what students need and the reality of where you must begin to help them grow as writers in this forum.
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