Teaching with Blogs

Janet Emig wrote about the composing processes of twelfth graders in the 70s. And what she says here directly relates to the work that you are doing in your classroom Barb.

While she is clearly pleased with the progress of writing in today’s classrooms, Emig is equally clear about the distance yet to go. When asked what it is we are still learning, Emig points to the computer. “I am struck by the feeling that teachers don’t seem to understand the revolution that the computer represents . . . by teachers not knowing how much students are writing [because of the advent of the computer].” “These kids are writing as much outside of school as some of our Victorian writers did!” Emig points out. Blogs, email, personal websites all represent forums through which today’s students are writing—to explore, to define, and to create themselves. As a result, students are more comfortable writing in different modes, for different audiences, and with writing in general. Today’s students regard writing as a more natural, human activity.

“But,” Emig notes, “we have yet to connect what is done inside schools with the fantastic interest that kids express in writing on their own.” She notes that this challenge—true even when she was teaching—is perennial, but the computer presents new opportunities.