Critical Evaluation Essay
bbumejdadWeb Blogs: a powerful tool in classrooms
Critical Evaluation Essay Outline
Introduction
Presenting the Subject: Literacy in its simplest form can be defined as “the ability to read simple passages of printed text and sign one's name” (Levine, 2003). Yet, in the 21st century with the development of information and technology, there is a big debate if literacy can only be limited to the ability to read and write. The debate suggests that literacy should be extended to technology literacy. According to Montgomery school, technology literacy is defined as “the ability of an individual, working independently and with others, to responsibly, appropriately and effectively use technology tools to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create and communicate information”. Conversely, we should look at how technology can increase the literacy of the individual and facilitate and support the learning process within educational setting?
The fact that the Internet has been increasingly affecting individual’s daily life, the experience of blogs has been part of it. Blogs are one of the best web tools that provide the individual’s to share their ideas and experiences in a daily basis. A blog, or as referred to a weblog, is a “Web publishing tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish text, artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites, and a whole array of other content” (Glencoe, 2005). Blogs are convenient Web sites with navigation and posting features. These posting are mainly in a text form and recently other media (images, and videos) posting were supported. Blogs can be accessed publically and can include people’s comments for any posting.
Thesis: Judgment on the Subject: Teachers choose blogs as the creative form of Internet technology to employ it in their classrooms. Both students and teachers can benefit from the use of “educational blogs” as an effective and powerful tool in their learning process. Educational blogs can be efficient for students as they can be accessed at conveniently any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer. Therefore, we believe that using blogs in the classroom can increase student learning through extending classroom boundaries, increasing collaboration and interaction, creating space for discussion and critical thinking.
Body of Argument
Reason One: Enhancing the writing skills
First Criteria. The first reason to support the use of educational blogs in classrooms is enhancing the writing skills”
Support:
· Blogs make a comfortable space where student can write better. Example of student expressing their classroom blogging experience “What I have enjoyed most about blogging is that even though we have certain topics to expand upon, I can post my own thoughts and feelings in a relaxed environment. As I have already stated in a previous blog, being in relaxed environment when you write is probably one of the best things for your writing. You can always write how you feel about the desired topic that you have to blog about.” (Lowe & Williams)
· Blogs can support the practicing of writing by developing voice; working on titles and conciseness; considering tone; brainstorming, drafting, and facilitating peer review.
· Students are able to see their own writing as something “real” with a practical application.
· Blogs motivate students to write not only to get the grade, but also to communicate their ideas to the public, which in turn enhance student’s writing quality.
Address objection, and refute: some scholar’s claim that technology such as educational blogs interrupt the pin and paper writing experience.
Reason two: increasing the critical thinking skills
Second Criteria. Another reason to support the use of educational blogs in classrooms is increasing the critical thinking skills.
Support:
· The critical thinking of students can be enhanced by reading responses of other students, listing articles and items of their interest, research responses, and personal explorations on topics.
· With the use of educational blogs, students are required to read information, filter through the related pieces, reorganize the information, and verify a meaningful way to write about it, which can promote critical thinking
Address objection, and refute: some scholars believe that technology such as educational blogs can interrupt and distract the thinking process
Reason Three. Extending the learning process
Third Criteria. The last reason to support the use of educational blogs in classrooms is extending the learning process outside the classroom boundaries.
Support:
· Blogs support collaboration between students, which in turn extend the learning process.
· Blogs can also support sharing and establish an accessible base for sharing resources between students.
Objection, and refute: Some scholars claim that technology such as educational blogs decrease the face-to-face interaction
Conclusion
Restating thesis and premises; In conclusion, in the 21st century, literacy is not limited to being able to read and write. The ability to use technology (technology literacy) is of the same important. Technology can be a powerful tool in education setting to help through the learning process. Educational blogging creates more opportunities to write which can enhance the critical thinking, and extend the learning process outside the classroom boundaries. Such a technology is simple to use and encourages students to put their writing skills to work. By integrating the weblog into the classroom and incorporating electronic writing into the classroom experience, students can enhance their literacy.
References
Definition of Technology Literacy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2014, from https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/techlit/docs/Definition of Technology Literacy.pdf
Levine, D. (2003). Literacy. In P. Demeny & G. McNicoll (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Population (Vol. 2, pp. 603-605). New York: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3403900218&v=2.1&u=asuniv&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=b9fc39030787792617640f8237a18e79
Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. (2005, January 1). Retrieved November 6, 2014, from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47
Lowe, C., & Williams, T. (2004, October 18). Moving to the Public: Weblogs in the Writing Classroom. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/moving_to_the_public_pf.html