"The Three Keys to "Blog Success

Hurlburt. S. (2008). Defining tools for a new learning space: Writing and reading class blogs http://jolt.merlot.org/vol4no2/hurlburt0608.htm

In the article – Defining Tools for a New Learning Space : Writing and Reading Class Blogs Sarah Hurlbert presents her reflections concerning the connection between pedagogy and technology and its effects on the classrooms of the present and the future. She examines the structure and components of a successful blog and analyzes the virtual environments. Hurlbert also claims that blog assignments are not equally successful in all subject areas and she discusses the elements that contribute to the success of a blog.

Factors that need to be taken into consideration while planning a successful class blog are :
1. The kind of assignment given
The student might feel insecure writing about a subject he/she doesn't know well. If the student is unconfident about revealing his/her work to the group, they will be even more hesitant to criticize the work of their peers. Therefore the nature of the assignment is an important factor that must be taken into consideration.
2. The anxiety of the anonymous reader
The reader is exposed to the criticism of his peers. “The first task of the e-learning teacher is to develop a sense of trust and safety within the electronic community. In the absence of this trust, learners will feel uncomfortable and constrained in posting their thoughts and comments.” (Anderson 2004, Bender 2006) As opposed to a traditional assignment where there is only one reader, a blog exposes the students work to their peers as well. This can cause a feeling of uneasiness and constraint.
3. The teacher's role in the blog environment
The most important reader in the student's mind is the teacher. Peer comments and teacher's comments do not have the same influence in the class blog. Although peer interaction is important, the student is well aware that the teacher is the one who determines the grade and as a result the student's comments are written with the teacher in mind.

In my opinion integrating technology into our classrooms is an asset.

With Blogs we must be aware that we are creating an artificial social environment. We might be tempted to assume that if a technology is interactive in its natural user environment, it will inevitably be interactive in its academic user environment. We tend to misjudge the students' ability to differentiate between "work" and "fun". We erroneously assume that students want to learn through the same devices that amuse and distract them.
Like Hurlbert says , "A class blogosphere actually has to impose the interactive structure spontaneously present in the public blogosphere through a combination of assignment design and student accountability. It is not enough that blog technology allows other students to read and respond to content; they must be held accountable for this reading, or it will not take place."