1. The Benefits of Classroom
Blogging
Dawn Anderson
May 20, 2015
EDET 780
A Critique of
MacBride, R., & Luehmann, A. L. (2008). Capitalizing on
emerging technologies: a case study of classroom blogging.
School Science and Mathematics, 108(5), 173+. Retrieved
from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA180277955&v=2.1&u=uscaiken&
it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=e3d8cf72fd6531020db7fc38747101b1

2. Reason For Study
• As teachers, we face the challenge of
incorporating technology into our
classrooms
• Finding tools which mimic online
communication students are familiar with
could increase learning
• Literature shows the potential blogging
holds, but current use of classroom blogs
are rare.

3. Focus of study
• Teacher intention for creating a blog-
creates additional forms of participation
and increases student exposure time with
content
• In what ways are blogs used?
• How is the use of a classroom blog
perceived by the teacher and students? Is
the investment worthwhile?

4. Data Collection
Authors searched for classroom blogs within
many search engines such as google.com and
yahoo.com
Their extensive research found only 17
classroom blogs, and were considered based on
four criteria: utilized by a high school teacher,
frequently updated, contained high levels of
student contribution, and were publically
available. This narrowed study to 4 blogs. Only
one of these classroom blogs was included
within the study.

5. Participants
The chosen classroom blog was created by a
veteran mathematics teacher in Winnipeg,
Manitoba. The blog was used within his
eleventh grade Pre-Calculus class. The
particular blog studied was from his Analytical
Geometry unit.

6. Details
The blog studied had
• 1,292 lines of text
• 30 student posts
• 11 teacher posts
• 26 student comments
• 3 teacher comments

7. Material Used Within Study
• The content of the blog was read four times
• The teacher interview was transcribed and
structured, and he shared helpful links
• Content of blog included scribe posts in which
students gave highlights of daily lessons, student
reflections of learning, and teacher resource
posts.

8. Results of Literature Review
Literature Review supported the potential
of blogs to:
• Support learning
• Promote reflective thinking
• Nurture collaboration and relationship-building
• Increase accountability and quality of student
work
• Encourage peer support
• Extend learning outside of classroom

9. What is a Blog?
A blog is frequently updated webpage containing
many posts. Blogs mainly contain text, but can
also have images, hyperlinks and allow for
audience comments. Blogging closely parallels
current forms of social media used by middle
and high school level students.

10. Positive Support of Classroom
Blogging
• Collaborative learning increased
• Socialization between students through chat boxes
• Classroom participation increased
• Students were participating within a global
community of learners
• Created a student-centered learning environment
• Place for reflection
• Enrichment opportunity

11. Critique
The success of this study appears to be due to the planning and
incorporation into the curriculum by a seasoned, technology savvy
educator. He included such concepts as a Sunday game post, chat
boxes, sharing of resources, and del.ilcio.us accounts, which is a
social bookmarking service available on the internet, a visitor’s
map (“a textbook for the world”), digital stories, and an online
class for when students are absent. During the conclusion, the
authors admit that this one case study supported their literary
research, but results will not be automatic for all teachers who
choose to use a classroom blog. This was a helpful study, but the
dating and small sample used do not offer the reader an accurate
picture within today’s society.

12. Next Step
This case study opens the door to many questions
and topics for research, as we are now ten years
into the future.
• How many classroom blogs can now be
discovered?
• Are blogs as effective within other disciplines?
• Have any more case studies been conducted to
explore the benefits of classroom blogs?
• What new technology is available to educators
which would also mimic student’s interaction and
comfort level with social media?