Blogging as an Instructional Tool in the ESL Classroom.
Theories on emerging technologies have stated that using blogs in the classroom can engage students in discussion, support peer learning, and improve students' literacy skills. Research has pointed to many ways that blogging is beneficial to student learning when used as an instructional tool. The researchers conducted a project that investigated the use of blogs in ESL instruction. Graduate education students who were taking coursework in order to earn a master's degree in TESL and/or teacher certification in ESL learned how to create and use blogs for educational purposes. While completing their ESL field experience requirement in U.S. K 12 school settings, these students noted how they observed blogs being used, and they interviewed ESL teachers about their experience in using blogs in the classroom. After their observations and interviews, these students completed a questionnaire in which they reported, summarized, and reflected on the use of blogs in an ESL curriculum and instructional implications. The article shares the results of this qualitative research study.