BP5_2009102_Web 2.0 Tools- Class Blogmeister

Class Blogmeister is a tool that can be found at http://classblogmeister.com/index.php and is a great tool to classroom teachers. Class Blogmeister allows teachers to create their own blog and then create student blogs as well. The teacher creates the blog, and then students can comment on what is written. The teacher can also then set up student blogs, so that the students can share their own articles. The students are able to work on these blogs, save them, finish working on them, and then publish them. The teacher must approve all blog posts and comment posts before they are published. This approval process allows the teacher to monitor the information that is being presented in their blog "classroom" so that all students may learn without having to worry about what they will encounter.

Students and teachers are able to take their academic discussions out of the classroom and into the real world. All students are able to express their opinions about the topics being discussed in a safe environment without the normal time constraints of a traditional classroom. Many teachers could use this to expand their classroom and their students’ thinking. If students had to post their own blog and then comment on 3 other blogs throughout the week, the discussions would be much richer than if they were simply happening in a 45-minute class period.

In my classroom, Class Blogmeister could have a great impact. I could have one area where students could ask each other for help in Spanish. This would allow higher-level students to be able to help lower level students. It would also help solidify the knowledge of these upper level students because they would be teaching someone else. I would also set up another area where I would post current events that are taking place in Spanish speaking countries. Students would have to comment on these different events, thus broadening their view of the world. They would also be able to see what their classmates thought of these events. Overall, I think this site could have a great impact in my classroom.