Wendy Thyfault
CASE STUDY
EDUC 515
A case study out of the University of Limerick investigated
the pedagogical value of blogging in the primary
classroom. The study examined the educational benefits
of blogging, the effect on students attitude towards
learning and the importance of an authentic audience.
The study involved a fifth grade class of 29 students from
a co-educational rural school blogging for a period of
four months. Students posted to the blog and read posts
of other bloggers regularly. Qualitative and quantitative
methods were used to gather data.
ABSTRACT
Short for web log
An online journal
Allows for interaction between the writer and
the readers through comments
Includes articles, images, video, links to other
sites, and comments
WHAT IS A BLOG?
The findings showed that
students were already inherently media literate and the use of
blogging capitalized on this.
blogging is identified as a platform that is easy to use
the blog provided a new learning environment; encouraging active
learning and guided discovery and students applied critical and
analytical thinking when working on the blog.
The blog provided and audience for writing which generally resulted
in a greater student investment in their work.
SUMMARY ON THE EDUCATIONAL
BENEFITS OF BLOGGING
Students were more motivated to learn not only by the use of
technology and the ability to type, but also by the audience they
have when writing online.
Strategies for motivating students can be effectively
implemented through the blog.
The use of active learning and guided discovery through
technology fulfills some of the aims of the Primary School
Curriculum and these strategies also had a positive impact on
students attitude to learning.
THE EFFECTS ON STUDENTS
ATTITUDES TOWARD LEARNING
The presence of an authentic audience was an important
feature of the blog, increasing student investment and motivation, a
source of praise and encouragement and enabled constructive
criticism from sources other than their teacher.
The fact that the blog was public was a defining component of
the research.
IMPORTANCE OF AN AUTHENTIC
AUDIENCE
I agree that blogging facilitates independent learning, as well as
social, collaborative and active learning. As a result, students skills
as critical and analytical thinkers increase.
Blogging also capitalizes on students inherent media literacies and
the skills of writing and learning online is something that will be of
benefit to them in the future as digital literacy
becomes more and more important.
Of course, with anything there are advantages and disadvantages.
ANALYSIS
Interactive-encourages discussion and reflection
Integrates technology
Huge motivator for students
Share classroom happenings with parents, relatives,
and other students
Allows students to practice reading and writing skills
Document and showcase student work for others to
evaluate
Gets students to write, react, and share
ADVANTAGES
Lack of technology available at school sites
Maintaining online safety
Writing can become haphazard if students do not have clear
guidelines and supervision.
Time consuming to sustain regular posts.
DISADVANTAGES
http://youtu.be/ySpKh5GJ3nY
BLOGGING IN THE
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
Further areas to consider for further research on blogging in the
elementary classroom:
Investigate if blogging had a measurable impact on students
reading levels.
Investigate if blogging can be used in lower grade levels and
what learning gains they achieve from using a blog.
Compare learning gains achieved using only traditional teaching
methods, copybooks and print material to those achieved using
blogging.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Resources for further research and assistance with blogging in the
classroom:
Class Blogmeister
Edublogs/Learnerblogs
Think.com
Gaggle
Blogger
RESOURCES
Aisling, M. (2013) Case study: the pedagogical value of blogging in the primary
school classroom. Galway:University of Ireland.
http://blog.web20classroom.org/2013/04/soyou-wanna-use-blogs-in-
classroom.html
http://techtoolboxforclassroom.blogspot.com/2012/11/technology-
article-reflection.html
http://thenjournal.org/feature/175/
http://ulir.ul.ie/handle/10344/3564
REFERENCES
