Counselor's Reflections

This is my first experience of actually reading  blogs with any form of ‘critical eye’.  The blogs are written is a manner that is very engaging.  The fact that people have commented on the blogs adds to the interest and in fact generates motivation to want to read to see what other s have shared.  This engaging aspects of blogging helps to facilitate learning and engage people in wanting to read.  The added dimensions of blogs and the fact that blogs exist on such a myriad of topics may facilitate interest in student reading and sharing thoughts and ideas with others. 

Blogging may provide students who find speaking  publically or in front of the class anxiety provoking, the opportunity to share their ideas and opinions.  It may also provide the opportunity to share and present other forms of work they have produced.  The blog explaining the Vidoe titled it doesn’t matter if you are 6, 26 or 106    is an example of how this could be done.  A student lacking the confidence to speak publically may present their blog their work, ideas and opinions.  Shoud  feedback received be positive, it may at some time in the future lead to them presenting their work and and sharing their reflections on it publically or in front of groups of people.

The other really cool aspect of blogs is the fact they can provide direct links to other articles so that thereader is able to check out and explore further the material that is being referred to – immediatley.   This is very useful in the Blog that refutes the concept of the Digital Native  .  It not only outlines argument which oppose the concept, but gives the direct link to the specific article beign critiqued.  Now that is a clear benefit and something that is not possible in more conventional print media!

The power blogs have to reach a wide audiance and provide links to useful information is demonstrated in the manyof the articles. One in particular was the blog titled an open letter on cyber bullying   .  ]It provides an overview of the goal of a particular group, but also provides the link to the site that contains a range of potentially usefull resources.  It also demonstrates how measure canbe taken to try and ensure that people who seek membership to gain access to certain sites can be screened to try and ensure they are legitimate and genuine in there endevours  in wanting to  join.