Student Review within Blogs!

A fantastic way to introduce students to blogging is to use your class' Blog Tool within Blackboard 24-7 and implement a test review session!  My outcomes for this activity were to introduce students to blogs and to also have them review for their Revolutionary War Test.  I had the kids go through their interactive notebooks and their study guides to try to develop challenging questions for their peers.  Once they had a good list of questions and answers they were allowed to go onto their Blackboard site and begin to post questions.  Once they had posted the questions they had written down their next step was to go and begin answering their classmates' questions!  I think that having the students drive their own review is very beneficial, much more than me asking the questions and them finding the answer. 

One thing to remember while implementing this within your classroom is that this is not just a "free time" for you!  This is a true test/assessment of what students have learned and what they still need more work on.  Sitting at your computer and watching what they write (questions and answers) will show you how students are doing.  Also, it is sometimes fun to write your own question which ensures that students continue to take their review seriously because they know you're watching! 

So, how could you implement blogging into your curriculum?  My outcome for this was for the students to review, but what would you want?  Perhaps have students share comments and thoughts about projects.  The science fair is coming up...wouldn't it be cute to have the kids write about their projects for all of their classmates to read and comment on with praise and other ideas to make projects even better?!  Always remember to think of your goals before you begin.