Student's blog. Correction

[ine]

I've asked a group of teenagers to create a blog, so for them to practice writing. They've really loved the idea and the blog is already running. The problem is, and this is my question, what should I do about mistakes? As you can imagine there are plenty! Should I edit my student's posts online? Should I give the student the correction and ask him/her to edit the text himself/herself? I'd be glad to recieve your advice on this.

[azharyoussef]

Actaully, there are many ways of correcting written mistakes:

1. Self-correction: You can make some sort of checlist for Ss to correct themselves.
For example, when Ss make mistakes in spelling, just write (S) on this mistake.
In more detail:
S for Spelling
G for grammatical mistakes
WC for word choice
P for punctuation ..... etc.

2. Peer correction: it is a very good way for Ss.
You can ask ur Ss to correct each other blogs.
Ss have a wonderful ability in correcting mistakes.
It is a good chance for them.

3. Teacher correction: At last, if the mistake is gross,
you can interfere and correct.
You can send the mistakes individually as Ss don't like to be corrected in public
Or for all students at the same time, but without names.

Good Work
Good Luck

[Alex Case]

If they have (even?) more problems with fluency and confidence than with accuracy, (which is common) and are getting plenty of grammar and correction elsewhere, I wouldn't correct at all.

[azharyoussef]

For fluency, we encourage students to correct themselves.
It is the best way for students.
This can be by your interference but indirectly.
I mean if a certain student says:
Dady go to the shop.
You can say: Ok you are right; dady goes to the shop.
I mean you can repeat it, but in a right way.
You can also say the sentence, but make focus on the wrong word.

For peer correction: It is not good way
when you want ur students improve their speaking skill.
As you know students like to correct themselves harshly.
This will make them don't want to speak.

In fluency, first we shouldn't focus on correcting grammar.
Later, when you find ur students make some sort of progress
in experssing their ideas fluently, then you can focus on grammar.

[ThomasTopham]

I agree with Alex. If what they are saying is comprehensible, then they are winning - they are successfully communicating with the world, in English.

The excellent thing about blogs is that the communication can be two-way, and most people really like to have what they've written get responses. I would take any time you were thinking of devoting to correction, and use it instead to post comments in their blogs responding to the content of what they are writing.

[NatGagnon]

Actaully, there are many ways of correcting written mistakes:

1. Self-correction: You can make some sort of checlist for Ss to correct themselves.
For example, when Ss make mistakes in spelling, just write (S) on this mistake.
In more detail:
S for Spelling
G for grammatical mistakes
WC for word choice
P for punctuation ..... etc.

2. Peer correction: it is a very good way for Ss.
You can ask ur Ss to correct each other blogs.
Ss have a wonderful ability in correcting mistakes.
It is a good chance for them.

3. Teacher correction: At last, if the mistake is gross,
you can interfere and correct.
You can send the mistakes individually as Ss don't like to be corrected in public
Or for all students at the same time, but without names.

Good Work
Good Luck

As mentioned by azharyoussef, there are many various ways to correct on blogs without adding a tremendous workload to your schedule. I must admit that peer correction is, from my experience, a very good way to proceed. As a teacher, you might want to change “correcting teams” every post to ensure a good correction. Often, some students are weaker than others and do not see all the possible errors. However, when changing correctors every post, the student is sure to get his share of revision by lower and higher level students. When peer correcting is being done, try and find a way to hide the other student’s identity. This way, when the student is correcting, he keeps a subjective view of the post and therefore offers a better correction. It also encourages students to recognize their own mistakes and motivates them to feel like a more performing L2 learner.

[TutorBrian]

This a great idea. I never thought about having students creating a blog. It seems like it also allows them to get more familiar with the technology and in addition, probably pretty easy to correct. I will think about implementing this myself in the classroom. Thanks!!