Blogging in teaching writing and online interaction👩💻
Hi, dear teachers!👋
Writing is a fundamental skill in many fields, and blogging offers a unique platform for practicing and enhancing this skill while engaging with a global audience.✍
Through regular blog posts, students can refine their writing abilities, find their authentic voices, and practice structuring their thoughts. This not only sharpens writing skills but also nurtures critical thinking. 🤔Students are to know and use in their posts lexis which is common among native speakers while online communication. Additionally, blogging provides a practical context for using required patterns, new vocabulary, grammar constructions, choosing the correct dynamic heading of the post, and more, which reinforces learning.
One of the significant advantages of blogging is its potential for online interaction, don't you agree? Readers can leave comments, engage in discussions, and provide feedback, allowing students to learn and adapt their writing in real-time. Online interaction offers opportunities to apply and reinforce what students have learned, fostering a sense of community among learners.
Furthermore, blogging connects students with a broader community of like-minded individuals and those passionate about their topics. It transcends geographical boundaries, providing exposure to diverse perspectives and enabling cross-cultural exchanges that enrich one's understanding and communication skills.
THE EXAMPLE OF OUR OWN EXERCISE:
EXERCISE 1.
Time: 10-15 minutes
1. Look at picture 1 below and say what is that: blog, online forum? Why do you think so?
2. Read the title of the discussion and what do you think it is about? Then read the post and comments from one student's blog and check whether your ideas are correct. Pay attention to the style of writing and language used in the post and comments below. Discuss this in pairs, and highlight the peculiarities in copybooks.
3. Look at the "PayAttentionBox", and check and compare your answers from the previous point. Try to rewrite the comments using normal words instead of acronyms, abbreviations, etc. Publish your answers to the comments on our own blog ( the teacher should send a link to students).
4. Imagine that you take part in this discussion and write your own comments on the blog using abbreviations, acronyms, and emojis.
- 0-3 points: Incomplete or inadequate understanding of the tasks.
- 4-7 points: Satisfactory execution of tasks, showing some understanding of online communication styles, but there are 5-7 mistakes (wrong emojis, wrong abbreviations/acronyms, wrong meaning of sentences).
- 8-9 points: Good execution, the student displayed a clear understanding of the tasks, and effectively completed them, but made 2-4 mistakes (wrong emojis, wrong abbreviations/acronyms, wrong meaning of sentences).
- 10-12 points: Excellent execution of tasks, demonstrating a strong grasp of online communication styles and effective use of language.
Embracing blogging is a vital step in preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century, enhancing writing skills, and engaging with a global audience. Share your thoughts in the comments section below!👇👇👇
P.S.: You can watch this video and post your comments about it below, too :)
Wow! Interesting thoughts!
ReplyDeleteDear author, could you please give at least one specific example of an activity for teaching writing via a blog? I mean with an instruction and a grading scale for 10th or 11th graders ? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Nastia, the exercise contains quaite a number of words and expressions that might be unfamiliar to Ukrainian 10th or 11th graders. How can this issue be solved, in your opinion?
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for the question! It's supposed that students have already learned the vocabulary about clothes, fashion etc. Abbreviations/acronyms/signs are supposed to be studied while working with this exercise. At first, they read the post and comments and then pay attention to the special box with rules, in which some basic info is written. Additionally, a teacher may provide some more examples of such things.So the students understand everything from the post, comments and "PayAttentionBox" and they are ready to take part in online discussions on online forums! Hope, now everything is clear)
DeleteWell, yes, thanks for your explanation. But a question arises: what's the timing for this exercise?
DeleteHello! Thanks for your comment) The timing for this exercise is about 12–15 minutes :)
DeleteSorry for the typo in case of "quite"
ReplyDeleteThe article is extremely informative and interesting. I had never considered a blog from the perspective the author presents. Thank you very much for this. A blog is indeed a helpful tool for every teacher in their work. I completely agree that it can help you connect with like-minded people and improve various skills. I rarely use abbreviations, but now I understand that they not only look interesting but also save a lot of time and make the text more emotionally engaging. I don't have any questions for the author because everything is explained clearly. My opinion has changed significantly after reading this. Now, I understand that a blog is a crucial tool, and I'm contemplating creating my own.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for your comment! I'm really happy that u like everything) ☺
DeleteThis post presents a comprehensive view of how blogging can significantly contribute to enhancing writing skills while fostering engaging online interactions among students. The emphasis on refining writing abilities, cultivating critical thinking, and the practical application of language constructs through blog posts is commendable. Additionally, the incorporation of interactive exercises, like analyzing blogs and discussions, seems like an effective strategy to reinforce comprehension and encourage active participation. The recognition of blogging as a means to transcend geographical boundaries and promote cross-cultural exchanges is also insightful, highlighting the broader impact of this educational tool.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with the importance of integrating blogging into teaching writing. The global reach of blogging, transcending geographical boundaries, indeed opens doors to diverse perspectives and cross-cultural exchanges, enriching both understanding and communication skills. I appreciate the well-structured exercise, especially the focus on analyzing communication styles and the "PayAttentionBox" task. Moreover, attached video simplifies the understanding of key points. In a world increasingly reliant on digital communication, the grading scale is a helpful guide to encourage effective and appropriate online expression. It's great to see the thoughtful consideration given to evaluating students' performance in this context.
ReplyDelete