Interaction

A key element of a teacher blog is that the blog is interactive. The student and teacher can communicate with each other, publicly or privately depending upon moderation, about class material. This is especially important for shy students, those who are afraid to admit in class that they do not understand lesson material, or those who do not want to be identified as being academically interested because of social pressure . The article states, "The most important lesson to be learnt from this is about classroom management and school discipline and the expectation that children will work outside school." A blog can be an asset for the student more interested in working outside the social space of school. A blog is also interactive; the student has the opportunity to select links to other sites and make a determination if the sites are relevant to their immediate need. They can focus the direction of their learning by following the link’s thread or return to the blog. This additional forum for communications is an asset in differentiating lessons by expanding communication and information access. Differentiation, “changing the pace, level, or kind of instruction…in response to individual learner’s needs, styles, or interests,”[1] is created since the blog serves as an easily accessible learning tool for all levels. No one tool adequately addresses the challenge of differentiating the class room, but a blog can enhance learning through flexibility, providing an additional learning format to either assist or challenge students, and documenting that curriculum standards and requirements are met. Since blogs are creatures of technology and students tend to be technology oriented, a blog, appropriately structure, provides an attractive, alternate learning environment for the student. This is an environment where students control the time of access, manage the depth and degree of learning, and add an interactive component to the learning environment.
[1] Hecox Ed D., Diane, Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, 2002 p. 5