Digital Classroom Presence

How can we be sure our students feel our presence as educators in digital learning environments?

In this post I will be discussing my thoughts on digital classroom presence, more specifically classroom blogs. Blogs are a tool teachers and students can use to help create a larger and more interconnected learning community. Setting up a classroom blog allows a space for teachers and students to collaborate in discussion, ask questions, and share experiences and ideas. The reason I find blogs to be such an extraordinary example of digital classroom presence is because it allows for these discussions to happen in an organized, creative, ongoing learning environment.

Something to keep in mind when creating classroom blogs is that a blog is a public website. Therefore, people who are not in the class can access it. This means that other community members such as parents, guardians, and even other students can see what’s being posted. This exposes students to an authentic audience. An authentic audience provides students with a purpose for their writing, which in turn causes them to put in their best work. Students want to show off what they know. A blog allows them to do just that. In an article published by NSU Florida, it is stated, “Blogging develops students’ analytical thinking and increases learning to a higher level, not merely just “understanding” and "remembering” instructional materials. Before their thoughts can be written down, students need to analyze the subject and then clarify their thoughts about the subject. Then, they need to carefully formulate and stand by their own opinions. Blogging encourages students to contemplate how their opinions might be interpreted and reflected upon by others” (Benefits of Blogging in Education, 2019). Blogs also help students learn social and digital literacy skills. We live in a time where digital literacy is a necessary form of reading. We consume digital texts everyday, from emails to memes. This means that students must learn how to proficiently read and produce digital texts. Running a classroom blog allows students to practice and develop these skills in a safe, structured manner. Not to mention, students will find it easier to engage in an activity that involves a tool used in their everyday lives: social media.

Blogs are an excellent way to create an engaged online learning community. Posts in a classroom blog can include photos, videos, links, texts, questions and answers, anything relevant to learning. This expands the mode in which students can make connections to class content and how students display their learning. The creativity that comes with blogging allows students to put personal touches on their posts, giving each contribution that much more meaning to it. The learning environment becomes more personal and interactive. Mark Thomson stated, “Bloggers always need to use their creativity and thinking to: develop unique and original content, solve problems, respond to their followers’ feedback and comments, and express their perspective and personality visually through custom themes, headers, layouts, designs, and pictures” (Thomson, 2018). Students are promoted to be their authentic selves when sharing their ideas and inspirations with both their classmates and the world.

I have never been required to make a blog or a blog post before as a student. However, I have participated in other digital class activities that are similar. For example, other digital tools such as Jamboard or even a discussion forum on EduCat have similar qualities. Through these platforms, I am able to share my ideas with the class and collaborate with classmates in discussion on the content. What these forums lack, however, is the authentic audience a blog provides. Nonetheless, I enjoy these kinds of assignments because they provide me with an ability to share my ideas and receive feedback from my peers.

In conclusion, blogs are a great way to increase digital classroom presence. A blog can be a community where a classroom can come together and hold meaningful conversations. Each student has something to bring to the table, and blogs allow every students’ voice to be heard. Blogs keep students and teachers alike creative and engaged. Students, teachers, and parents can all benefit from the use of classroom blogs because everyone can stay in the loop on what learning is occurring in the classroom.

References

Benefits of Blogging in Education. (2019). NSU. https://www.nova.edu/lec/This-Week-in-the-LEC/2019/August/Benefits%20of%20Blogging%20in%20Education.html

Thomson, M. (2018, April 23). Why Your Students Should Blog: 6 Powerful Benefits | Emerging Education Technologies. Emergingedtech.com. https://www.emergingedtech.com/2018/04/why-your-students-should-blog-6-powerful-benefits/