Using PLNs in the classroom

I would love to be able to use PLNs in my classroom. However, I have run into some roadblocks due to the young age of my students. My students are 10 and 11 years old, and being able to sign up for blogger, gmail, and facebook, requires their members to be at least 13 years old. I realize that there are some creative ways around these obstacles, so if I were to use PLNs in my classroom I would use blogs and facebook.

Blogs would be used for classroom discussions, introduction of new topics, and a place where students can ask questions.

Facebook would be mostly used for parent contact. I guess much like a classroom website I would post updates and pictures so parents and students could stay connected with the classroom. The reason this works better on facebook than with a classroom website is because parents can post comments and talk with each other.

Using Blogging in Education

In my own classroom I would use blogging as a discussion tool. Often times in my classroom we work in large group settings, and when we discuss or answer questions it seems that the same five kids are the ones answering. I don't always get to hear or read my students' thoughts when they don't answer in class. By using a blog in class I get a chance to see into the thoughts of my students, all of them, and get a chance to assess their learning.

Blogging also will encourage my class to practice their formal writing skills as well as utilizing 21st Century Skills.