Journal #3

Moderating and Ethics for the Classroom Instructional Blog, written by Patricia Deubel,Ph.D., gives yet another example of the importance of having a purpose to an educational assignment and the necessity of teaching ethics for each new technological tool. Dr. Deubel tells us that when incorporating tools of technology like blogs it should not just be for fun. It needs to have instructional “standards, goals, and essential questions with corresponding understandings, knowledge, and skills that you desire students to acquire.” Though blogs can be useful teaching tools teachers will also have to practice proper ethics. This means teachers will have to mediate to insure that students are posting “factual truths” as opposed to just “free expression.” Students will need to remain in the boundaries of blogging for educational purposes. Blogs require a lot of teacher initiative and interaction but the rewards from having a spot for student/ teacher interaction are endless.

How do you let your students know what is expected of them both ethically and educationally when using a classroom blog?

As with any new class and the coming of a new year, a teacher has to spend the first week or two establishing class rules and ethics. Upon use of the classroom blog, a teacher will have to every explicitly explain the goals and rules to students for using the classroom blog. The teacher will also have to put some sort of grade initiatives so the students will be sure to participate in the class blog. Again, the teacher will have to be sure to mediate because some students will test their ability to break the rules.

What are some helpful cites to help beginners with their classroom blogs?

www. Classblogmeister.com/bloggers contract.doc
Edublogs.org
www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47
www.teacherfirst.com/content/blog/blogbasics.cfm