When I was in Year 11 my school started a student led newspaper. The opportunity to jump on board the editorial team was hard to pass up. Becoming the Editor in the following year sparked a love for ideas, collaboration and innovation that has grown throughout my life. It also inspired an uncanny ability to pull all-nighters and not look cross eyed the following morning (a handy skill across a range of scenarios).
Although my journalistic aspirations and endeavours were packed away with my Year 12 jersey, I have recently returned to the seed planted all those years ago. Who knew that a mere 32 years later, as a Teacher Librarian, I would be spending my lunch breaks and one afternoon a week with a colleague and a group of budding journalists going about the business of establishing a student led online journal?
I’m planting seeds and digital technologies are helping. During the “dark ages” my tools of the trade were broadsheet templates, scissors, glue and marking tape. Today, the students I meet with will be using EduBlogs to publish their news journal.
Kathleen Morris has written a blog post on the benefits of blogging for teachers and students.
Although she deftly outlines 18 undeniable benefits of blogging, there are 6 that particularly resonate as I work to establish an online presence for students which is facilitated through the College library.
Blogging promotes creativity and creative expression from across curriculum areas.
Blogging is a window into the classroom as students publish their efforts to the broader school community.
Blogging develops thinking and writing skills as students use their knowledge of the world to contribute to the creation of new knowledge.
Blogging provides students with a voice as they help shape the culture around them.Blogging promotes global connectedness when students reach out to address inequity and injustice.
Blogging is purposeful and productive, providing students with a legacy of learning that serves to inspire those who would come after.
Ask me again in 5 years about how blogging has helped grow the seed of ideas, collaboration and innovation. I’m positive there’ll be plenty more to say.
Module 4.1
Image: https://www.needpix.com/photo/1204091/seed-wild-plant-plant-nature-wild-botany-botanical-green-free-photos