Using Blogs in the Learning Activities

Nowadays, reading and writing texts online are basic skills that students need to understand as the global community. There are many strategies that teachers can do to engage students’ activities. One of the strategies is by using blogs. Blogs is a tool that makes both teacher and students easy to publish a writing. It provides the opportunity for students and teachers to publish and to share their writing easily. Besides, each of them can give their feedback by giving comments in minutes. It is so useful for students because they can also get comments from an authentic audience.

In blogs, students can write entries and comment on the entries of their peers. Students can also post their journal or diary entries, reflections of the learning activities, their projects in the classroom, commentary on classroom’s recent activities or readings and drafts for other writing that they are doing. Once a student posts an entry, others in the class can respond, provide supportive feedback, and offer additional suggestions or perspectives. By writing and commenting on blogs, students write for real readers. As a result, students focus on clear communication and get immediate feedback on whether they communicate effectively.

Here are some steps that teachers can do when they want to use blogs in the learning activities.

1.      Create their own blog

It means, teacher should create their own blog for students practice. In their blog, teachers can provide links for further reading. With creating a blog, teacher gives class information and links for self-study.

2.      Ask students’ to create their own blog

Students also need to have their own blog for writing practice and reflection on class activities. Students’ blog can also be used as a forum for exchanging ideas on a class-based project.