The Benefits of Educational Blogging

Through my own experience with educational blogging, and through reading the experiences of others, I believe it is safe to say that blogging, despite its slightly dated connotation, is an effective and useful way to share personal thoughts and opinions. Educational blogging, at its core, breaks down barriers. It allows individuals to share opinions that would not otherwise be shared, and for individuals to hear opinions that would not otherwise be heard. In this sense, blogging breaks down barriers that would have otherwise kept these ideas restrained. In the field of education, our purpose in blogging is to educate. Whether it be with our students, or other educators, blogging allows teachers a unique form of expression and instruction that furthers interpersonal connection through technology. 

Blogging can share any individual's thoughts 

and opinions to a much larger, worldwide audience.

This semester, I was able to construct my own blog, and discuss topics in the realm of education that I found both relevant and interesting. Many of my classmates did the same, and one topic that kept coming up was the topic of class size. While I never covered this topic, I find the subject to be extremely relevant, and often overlooked, as I overlooked it myself. Suzy Hill expressed her hope that classes will decrease in size, Kristen Sabinsky further delved into the developmental benefits of a smaller class size for younger students, and Allison Schaumberger even connected larger class sizes to teachers leaving the profession. Like my classmates, I share the hope that class sizes will decrease by whatever means necessary. As Sabinsky shared, there are many benefits of smaller class sizes which include, but are not limited to, more personalized learning, one on one instruction, and higher performance levels in the classroom. 

My experience with educational blogging, while extremely minimal, has been quite insightful. While I initially brushed off the thought of ever maintaining an educational blog, simply due to my desire to teach in high school, I now realize that blogging doesn’t necessarily have to be for my students. Instead, it can be for me, or any number of education professionals who may find comfort or encouragement through our shared experiences, opinions, and/or frustrations. That being said, even though I may not find the time to prioritize blogging during my first few years in the classroom, I firmly believe that educational blogging is something I will find my way back to in due time. 

Standardized Testing

We've all taken a test. Whether it was for school, our jobs, or perhaps even a driver's permit, we have all been made to prove our knowledge by taking a test at some point in our lives. A test, every now and then, might not always be welcomed, but it is normally expected. Some things you either know, or you don't, and written tests have long been the accepted way of proving this. However, what if this weren't the case? Studies have shown that standardized testing actually reduces effective classroom practices, as it forces teachers to adopt one-size-fits-all methods in an effort to teach in coordination to the anticipated test. This being said, for the sake of learning, wouldn't it be better to do away with standardized testing altogether? The short answer, for many state and county departments, is no. Despite criticisms from both teachers, and students, education departments far and wide have not sought to implement any sort of alternative to standardized testing because, simply put, there isn't one. Students receive various forms of education in different states and counties, and the one thing that every student is expected to complete - the one constant - is a standardized test. More specifically, the ACT or SAT. When applying for colleges, a student's ACT or SAT score is normally one of the first pieces of required information. Since these tests are the same for everyone, they are often reliable when measuring certain academic aptitudes. 

Standardized test bubble sheet.

Standardized testing isn't gong anywhere, at least not anytime soon. So how do we, as educators, ensure that we are still effective in the classroom, despite standardized tests dictating our curriculum? The solution will be different for everyone, but for me, I have a preference. When I was in high school, my sophomore year, everything shifted to ACT prep. I had a new class specifically for test taking strategies, and was made to take specialized ACT prep classes in each of the four tested areas my junior year. ACT preparation was kept completely separate from my regular classes, and because of that, I benefitted. My teachers were able to focus on their subject areas while subtly incorporating test prep, while my ACT specific classes prepared me to actually take the test. I ended up taking the test only once, and made a 30 composite score. Testing isn't everyone's strong suit, but, in my opinion, through teaching in this manner, students can learn independent of the test, then transition to actually taking the test by using the strategies they've learned. 

The Digital Divide

As educators, we are continuously encouraged to integrate more advanced versions of technology into our practice as it becomes more common in the world around us. Whether it is in the form of online tests, or as interactive virtual lessons, it's safe to say that the use of strictly pencil and paper in the classroom is quickly becoming a thing of the past. However, despite our growing use of technology both in and outside of the classroom, these advanced forms of technology are still not accessible to all. This separation between those who possess said technology, and those who don't, is known as the Digital Divide. The Digital Divide is commonly referred to as the gap that exists in most areas between those with easy access to the tools of information and communication technologies, and those without such access or skills. This gap can be accredited to socioeconomic factors, geographical factors, or even generational factors. Because of this, the complete integration of technology has proven to be difficult in the classroom, as not all students have access to the same technologies that are made available to them within their respective schools. With this in mind, the question for all of us, as educators, is how do we integrate technology into the classroom knowing that some of our students may not have access to these resources elsewhere?

A public school computer lab

As educators, we are at a crossroads. Technology, when used correctly, is a phenomenal asset. It makes our lives easier, and often makes our students' lives easier as well. Still, the last thing we want to do is alienate certain students simply because they do not have the same tools and technologies readily available to them at home. Alternative assignments just aren't the same, and do not prepare students equally. If you're in a school district that lends students laptops, or some other form of technology for the school year, you may not be faced with this issue. If you're not, however, there is only one solution that allows you to continue to use technology to some extent: keep it inside the classroom. This means no online homework, no virtual take-home quizzes, and no digital outside-of-class projects. We must allot time for our students to work on these technology dependent things inside the classroom, so that everyone is given the same opportunity to learn, and so that we are available to provide support if needed. Maybe, as technology spreads to become even more commonplace, we will reach a point where we can expect all students to have access to these tools, but until then, we must ensure that we provide those tools if and when necessary. 

Cyberbullying in Schools

Teenage girl uses cell phone to send text message

Bullying is not a new issue among children, and it is especially not a new issue in schools. We've seen it for years through the media, and perhaps even in our own schooling experiences. In recent years, however, alongside the development of mobile technology, bullying has progressed as well. The popularized imageof the big-kid-steals-small-kid's-lunch-money has become a sort of myth only seen in movies, while today, the real bullies hide behind a touch screen. Cyberbullying is defined as bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets, and this form of bullying has become increasingly prevalent among those kids with access to this technology. Messages, good and bad, can be sent in an instant, to a mere one person, or thousands.

As educators, cyberbullying is largely a grey area. Its development is relatively new, and despite the never ending anti-bullying campaigns, legislation, and resources, we still continue to face this issue. The vast majority of our students now carry mobile supercomputers in hand, 24/7. Whether its in the classroom, or even in the bathroom, these tiny screens aren't likely to be left behind. But what happens when our students leave the classroom? While the effects of cyberbullying can likely be seen by us, as educators, as well as other students, the act of cyberbullying itself is likely to take place elsewhere, outside of the school, and ultimately, out of our control. This begs the question, how could we possibly address an issue we cannot explicitly see, or solve a problem that isn't necessarily within our reach? As we learn more about the consequences of online medias, it is inevitable that we will find better, more effective solutions for keeping our students safe. In the meantime, however, we can seek to be a friend. We can remind our students that they aren't alone, and provide a helping hand wherever or whenever it is needed. Sometimes, these actions alone can make a world of difference.