Who is blogging?
A fair estimate shows 50 million bloggers on the web (EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, 2005). A large percentage of these bloggers are young people, often students, utilizing this popular platform to share their thoughts.
Various studies have shown a large percentage of bloggers to be youth (Huffaker, 2005). For instance, a Perseus Development Corporation study has found that 51.5% of all blogs are developed and maintained by teenagers. Similarly, 40.4% of all blog users were found to be under the age of 20 according to another study. Even livejournal.com, one of the most popular personal blogging sites online, has said that its largest age group of bloggers is under 20 years old.
Various studies have shown a large percentage of bloggers to be youth (Huffaker, 2005). For instance, a Perseus Development Corporation study has found that 51.5% of all blogs are developed and maintained by teenagers. Similarly, 40.4% of all blog users were found to be under the age of 20 according to another study. Even livejournal.com, one of the most popular personal blogging sites online, has said that its largest age group of bloggers is under 20 years old.
Blogging as Tool for Critical Digital Literacy
With the modern increase of technology use in various facets, a new kind of literacy has emerged, called digital literacy. This form of literacy, like print literacy before it, enables people to function in society. Cynthia Selfe, technological literacy scholar, defined this form of literacy as not only "the complex set of socially and culturally situated values, practices, and skills involved in operating linguistically within the context of electronic environments," but also including "a political agenda," adding a reflective aspect to the full definition. Resnick (2002) cites digital fluency as prerequisite to living in today's world.
Digital possibilities provide digital literacy with a variety of benefits. These benefits include a variety of thinking skills, such as advances in the areas of critical/analytical, creative/intuitive/associational, and analogical thinking. Also, the technological advances provide literate people with increased access/exposure to information at a never before seen rate. Additionally, the digital realm provides a balance of solitary/social activity.
Blogs are a perfect tool for this literacy. In the same way as print writing, blogging provides a space for composition that enhances the important modes of thinking. The significant difference lies in blogs ability to enhance information retrieval and exposure. Blogs provide a unique space for multi-model expression, instant access, and hyperlink capabilities. Also, blogs bring about an interaction possibility, capable of allowing comments and group blogging.
Digital possibilities provide digital literacy with a variety of benefits. These benefits include a variety of thinking skills, such as advances in the areas of critical/analytical, creative/intuitive/associational, and analogical thinking. Also, the technological advances provide literate people with increased access/exposure to information at a never before seen rate. Additionally, the digital realm provides a balance of solitary/social activity.
Blogs are a perfect tool for this literacy. In the same way as print writing, blogging provides a space for composition that enhances the important modes of thinking. The significant difference lies in blogs ability to enhance information retrieval and exposure. Blogs provide a unique space for multi-model expression, instant access, and hyperlink capabilities. Also, blogs bring about an interaction possibility, capable of allowing comments and group blogging.
Reasons to Use Blogs in the Classroom
Paquet's distinct features of blogs, provided on the Introduction page, lends themselves well to success in the classroom. For example, personal editorship allows students to create a revised, self-published stock of writing, akin to a portfolio or personal journal. Like these mediums, a blog allows revisiting and revising. Unlike these paper-based mediums, blogs have other features that allow for more frequent and more productive activity inside this medium. The hyperlinked posting structure allows several key possibilities. Peer-to-peer and even student-to-teacher sharing of work becomes as easy as a click of a button with blogs. Additionally, the use of comments provides quick and easy feedback to students.
Blogging's place on the Internet coupled with the ease of use allows for frequent updates, a reliable practice for the classroom. Similar to a carry-able paper journal, blogs can be updated from home, school, or elsewhere; this capability provides opportunities to take writing outside the classroom. More importantly though, students, many of whom are blogging anyway, often view blogging as less work than a typical writing assignment. This accessibility also makes the other important components, such as feedback, more logical and likely to be done. Blogging's place on the Internet gives students access to their work, perhaps for revising, and to their peers' work for feedback. Additionally, the easy access of blogs allows students' work to hit a bigger audience. Similarly, blogging's archived listings provide similar opportunities. Additionally, blogs act as a place where all posts are saved, like published pieces.
With its unique characteristics, blogging is a legitimate writing tool for students. It provides many of the same opportunities as paper based writing along with some additional benefits, such as its location on the web. Overall, blogging is an extremely capable medium for digital literacy instruction.
Blogging's place on the Internet coupled with the ease of use allows for frequent updates, a reliable practice for the classroom. Similar to a carry-able paper journal, blogs can be updated from home, school, or elsewhere; this capability provides opportunities to take writing outside the classroom. More importantly though, students, many of whom are blogging anyway, often view blogging as less work than a typical writing assignment. This accessibility also makes the other important components, such as feedback, more logical and likely to be done. Blogging's place on the Internet gives students access to their work, perhaps for revising, and to their peers' work for feedback. Additionally, the easy access of blogs allows students' work to hit a bigger audience. Similarly, blogging's archived listings provide similar opportunities. Additionally, blogs act as a place where all posts are saved, like published pieces.
With its unique characteristics, blogging is a legitimate writing tool for students. It provides many of the same opportunities as paper based writing along with some additional benefits, such as its location on the web. Overall, blogging is an extremely capable medium for digital literacy instruction.
