Blogs in the Classroom

“Post an idea for how you might use a blog in your classroom.” That is the statement I am to answer for my first blog post. Before reading the required text for my course, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson, I decided that I did not want to post any idea that Richardson suggested in his book. I had a lot of ideas, so I thought I would be in the clear. But as I read, I noticed that all my previous ideas were already written in black ink. So, I needed to think of another. I read the word “expert” several times in chapter three, and finally, it hit me – EXPERTS!

In the well-known “Jigsaw Strategy,” students become experts. If you are new to this strategy, it works like this. Students are separated into groups – let’s just say there are five groups with four students in each. This is called their “Home Group.” Within a group, students are then numbered one through four. At this point, students leave their home group and form a new group – all the ones are a group, all the twos, and so forth. These groups are called an “Expert Group.” Expert groups are responsible for becoming experts on a certain topic. Then, they bring their expertise back to their home group. Therefore, each member in the home group is now an expert in a different area and will teach the other members in their home group. Overall, not only will students learn the section, but they must teach it as well; and I certainly believe we learn as much from reading as we do from teaching.

Many teachers using this strategy assign expert groups a certain section in a textbook chapter. So, these fifth grade expert groups will receive a certain section in a science textbook chapter. As an expert group, they will work together to find the main parts (important information) of the section they believe is imperative to share with their home group.

So, where’s the blog? In the end, each expert group will make a “potential” blog post. Individually, students in the expert group can decide to either post the information on the home group’s blog as is or edit the post additionally to meet the specific needs of the home group. As mentioned, each home group will have a blog. It is the responsibility of each member of the home group to submit the post of their expertise. Once the posts have been made, students have essentially written a student version of a chapter in their textbook. Furthermore, it is essential that members of the home group read each member’s post (and perhaps even the blogs of other home groups!) as well as comment, ask questions, etc.

Overall, students are working collaboratively face-to-face and online through blogs. In the later, students are not only blogging to inform their group, but also the world audience. Altogether, this blog is a place for students to interact about content, showcase their work, and share learning with a larger community.