Web Blogs: a powerful tool in classrooms Critical Evaluation Essay Outline Introduction Presenting the Subject: Literacy in its simplest form can be defined as “the ability to read simple passages of printed text and sign one's name” (Levine, 2003). Yet, in the 21st century with the development of information and technology, there is a big debate if literacy can only be limited to the ability to read and write. The debate suggests that literacy should be extended to technology literacy. According to Montgomery school, technology literacy is defined as “the ability of an individual, working independently and with others, to responsibly, appropriately and effectively use technology tools to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create and communicate information”. Conversely, we should look at how technology can increase the literacy of the individual and facilitate and support the learning process within educational setting? The fact that the Internet has been increasingly affecting individual’s daily life, the experience of blogs has been part of it. Blogs are one of the best web tools that provide the individual’s to share their ideas and experiences in a daily basis. A blog, or as referred to a weblog, is a “Web publishing tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish text, artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites, and a whole array of other content” (Glencoe, 2005). Blogs are convenient Web sites with navigation and posting features. These posting are mainly in a text form and recently other media (images, and videos) posting were supported. Blogs can be accessed publically and can include people’s comments for any posting. Thesis: Judgment on the Subject: Teachers choose blogs as the creative form of Internet technology to employ it in their classrooms. Both students and teachers can benefit from the use of “educational blogs” as an effective and powerful tool in their learning process. Educational blogs can be efficient for students as they can be accessed at conveniently any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer. Therefore, we believe that using blogs in the classroom can increase student learning through extending classroom boundaries, increasing collaboration and interaction, creating space for discussion and critical thinking. Body of Argument Reason One: Enhancing the writing skills First Criteria. The first reason to support the use of educational blogs in classrooms is enhancing the writing skills” Support: · Blogs make a comfortable space where student can write better. Example of student expressing their classroom blogging experience “What I have enjoyed most about blogging is that even though we have certain topics to expand upon, I can post my own thoughts and feelings in a relaxed environment. As I have already stated in a previous blog, being in relaxed environment when you write is probably one of the best things for your writing. You can always write how you feel about the desired.

1. Web Blogs: a powerful tool in classrooms
Critical Evaluation Essay Outline
Introduction
Presenting the Subject: Literacy in its simplest form can be
defined as “the ability to read simple passages of printed text
and sign one's name” (Levine, 2003). Yet, in the 21st century
with the development of information and technology, there is a
big debate if literacy can only be limited to the ability to read
and write. The debate suggests that literacy should be extended
to technology literacy. According to Montgomery school,
technology literacy is defined as “the ability of an individual,
working independently and with others, to responsibly,
appropriately and effectively use technology tools to access,
manage, integrate, evaluate, create and communicate
information”. Conversely, we should look at how technology
can increase the literacy of the individual and facilitate and
support the learning process within educational setting?
The fact that the Internet has been increasingly affecting
individual’s daily life, the experience of blogs has been part of
it. Blogs are one of the best web tools that provide the
individual’s to share their ideas and experiences in a daily
basis. A blog, or as referred to a weblog, is a “Web publishing
tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish text,
artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites, and a whole array of
other content” (Glencoe, 2005). Blogs are convenient Web sites
with navigation and posting features. These posting are mainly
in a text form and recently other media (images, and videos)
posting were supported. Blogs can be accessed publically and
can include people’s comments for any posting.
Thesis: Judgment on the Subject: Teachers choose blogs as the

2. creative form of Internet technology to employ it in their
classrooms. Both students and teachers can benefit from the use
of “educational blogs” as an effective and powerful tool in their
learning process. Educational blogs can be efficient for students
as they can be accessed at conveniently any time, in any place
with an Internet-enabled computer. Therefore, we believe that
using blogs in the classroom can increase student learning
through extending classroom boundaries, increasing
collaboration and interaction, creating space for discussion and
critical thinking.
Body of Argument
Reason One: Enhancing the writing skills
First Criteria. The first reason to support the use of educational
blogs in classrooms is enhancing the writing skills”
Support:
· Blogs make a comfortable space where student can write
better. Example of student expressing their classroom blogging
experience “What I have enjoyed most about blogging is that
even though we have certain topics to expand upon, I can post
my own thoughts and feelings in a relaxed environment. As I
have already stated in a previous blog, being in relaxed
environment when you write is probably one of the best things
for your writing. You can always write how you feel about the
desired topic that you have to blog about.” (Lowe & Williams)
· Blogs can support the practicing of writing by developing
voice; working on titles and conciseness; considering tone;
brainstorming, drafting, and facilitating peer review.
· Students are able to see their own writing as something “real”
with a practical application.

3. · Blogs motivate students to write not only to get the grade, but
also to communicate their ideas to the public, which in turn
enhance student’s writing quality.
Address objection, and refute: some scholar’s claim that
technology such as educational blogs interrupt the pin and paper
writing experience.
Reason two: increasing the critical thinking skills
Second Criteria. Another reason to support the use of
educational blogs in classrooms is increasing the critical
thinking skills.
Support:
· The critical thinking of students can be enhanced by reading
responses of other students, listing articles and items of their
interest, research responses, and personal explorations on
topics.
· With the use of educational blogs, students are required to
read information, filter through the related pieces, reorganize
the information, and verify a meaningful way to write about it,
which can promote critical thinking
Address objection, and refute: some scholars believe that
technology such as educational blogs can interrupt and distract
the thinking process
Reason Three. Extending the learning process
Third Criteria. The last reason to support the use of educational
blogs in classrooms is extending the learning process outside
the classroom boundaries.

4. Support:
· Blogs support collaboration between students, which in turn
extend the learning process.
· Blogs can also support sharing and establish an accessible
base for sharing resources between students.
Objection, and refute: Some scholars claim that technology such
as educational blogs decrease the face-to-face interaction
Conclusion
Restating thesis and premises; In conclusion, in the 21st
century, literacy is not limited to being able to read and write.
The ability to use technology (technology literacy) is of the
same important. Technology can be a powerful tool in education
setting to help through the learning process. Educational
blogging creates more opportunities to write which can enhance
the critical thinking, and extend the learning process outside the
classroom boundaries. Such a technology is simple to use and
encourages students to put their writing skills to work. By
integrating the weblog into the classroom and incorporating
electronic writing into the classroom experience, students can
enhance their literacy.
References
Definition of Technology Literacy. (n.d.). Retrieved November
6, 2014, from
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/techlit/doc
s/Definition of Technology Literacy.pdf
Levine, D. (2003). Literacy. In P. Demeny & G. McNicoll
(Eds.), Encyclopedia of Population (Vol. 2, pp. 603-605). New
York: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE
%7CCX3403900218&v=2.1&u=asuniv&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&

5. asid=b9fc39030787792617640f8237a18e79
Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. (2005,
January 1). Retrieved November 6, 2014, from
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.ph
tml/47
Lowe, C., & Williams, T. (2004, October 18). Moving to the
Public: Weblogs in the Writing Classroom. Retrieved November
14, 2014, from
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/moving_to_the_public_pf.h
tml