Reading prompt 2

Egbert describes the optimal conditions for classroom language learning. Discuss how blogs and blogging can be a tool for achieving these conditions with ELL students. Finally, describe your own experience creating your blog this week. What topic or topics do you plan to blog about?
Based on the unlimited flexibility of technology and its applications blogs can be an excellent tool to fulfill the eight conditions for classroom language learning mentioned by Egbert & Hanson-Smith (2005). As it has been mentioned in Richardson’s text there are many uses for blogs and its capabilities can make a great impact on language learning. For example a blog can be designed to impart lessons and practice of the subject. It can also provide the capacity to exchange information among the students which can be less intimidating than always dealing with the instructor. Blogs, as we have seen in our classroom can be used for spreading information, posting our understanding of assigned reading material, read other students thoughts, comment on them, and so on. English Language Learners can also learn to use blogs to enhance their English language proficiency to include speaking, reading, and writing. I think that being able to include videos in blogs can help ELLs watch and listen proper language pronunciation numerous times, video themselves doing the same exercises and getting feedback from classmates and instructors. These activities can be done synchronously or asynchronously.
As per my class experience creating my blog it was exciting and intimidating at the same time. My tech ability is, as I have expressed before, rather rudimentary. However, I believe that blogs have a tremendous potential especially if an area of interest is found. I do not know if my topic would be interesting enough for people to follow. But, I really would like to have a discussion blog to dispel the belief of some people that “our economy is in the state it is because of undocumented workers.” Though this is hot issue with numerous individuals, our economy is in shambles, our tendency is to attribute bad conditions to others, and the information that will enter the blog could get inflammatory, it could be an excellent stage to inform others, that those undocumented workers is really contributors rather than liabilities.