Week 1.3
Blog about it!
As teachers, we need to find creative ways to keep our students focused and engaged in our classroom. What better way to do that then on the computer...blogging about it! Most students have some, if not a ton of experience with technology. This is an area they typically out shine their teacher. Students truly respect a teacher who is willing to try new things in their classroom. Blogs are an easy and exciting way to have students practice their writing and build 21st century learning skills.
Blogs can provide...
resources and updates for students and parents.
a supportive writing environment.
a place to communicate and/or reflect on different topics or events.
a place to share their personal thoughts or opinions.
a new motivating approach to get kids writing MORE!
a creative way of receiving feedback from teacher and peers.
Some easy and safe blogs to help you get started...
Blogger
Blogmeister
Kidsblog
Edublog
Ning - free pro version of educators
Wikispaces
Moodle
For safety tips visit, http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml.
Set up a blog and include rules and guidelines for your students... http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/2011/02/18/student-blogging-activity-2-beginner-setting-up-rules-guidelines/
Get over your fear and start your blog today! How will your first post engage your students?
I am very excited about using a blogging tool in my classroom for next semester. I started to use blogging towards the end of last semester and the response was great. I teach last period of the day. I told the students that I was going to have a blog posted and told them it was optional if they wanted to respond to it. I have 18 students in the class. School gets out at 2:15 by 3:15 I had 12 posts. By the next day all students had posted. The best part was that I was using it as an assessment tool on the topic we were studying because I was not sure if they students were processing the information. I know this was a great tool to use when I read the postings from the students and they were all right on target. And to even top that off, they students were asking questions about the topic and other students were responding to the questions. After seeing this type of engagement, it has encouragement me to continue and develop the use of blogs in the curriculum. My first blog of the next semester will be on a current event article related to the topic of discussion. I just began working with our reading specialist to create higher level questioning for the article to help students develop the skills for the writing portion of the CAPT test. And after reading these two articles, it is clear to me that I need to develop a set of guidelines for the students to follow as well as a rubric for grading. I never really thought of using blogging a tool to teach digital citizenship so I look forward to learning more about how to do this.Kate
ReplyDeleteKate! I'm so excited about your enthusiasm and that of your students. Digital citizenship plays a large role in thier lives. They just don't know it yet!
DeleteWow, that is a great way to begin blogging and incorporate it into the curriculum. That's the great thing about teaching is as soon as you see student engagement and enthusiasm towards the topic, you roll with it and it may even benefit the rest of your classes. I'm excited to learn about the various ways blogging can be used in the classroom across the many subjects
DeleteDear Kate: Your enthusiasm shows through your writing. That is awesome. I am glad that you mentioned the CAPT because this is an important consideration in all teaching since NCLB (2002). I remember during the certification classes, especially those with Prof. Butler, BLOOM'S TAXONOMY. The higher order questions are crucial in elevating students' thinking patterns. We have to push, push, push. It sounds that you have a firm grip on blogging. I never created one nor got involved until TECHONOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM. That was the first time. I have to create on still.
DeleteI started our first classroom blog this week (6Acebook.blogspot.com). The students are currently completing an embedded task called "Dig In," and while it is a long and monotonous lab it is an excellent starting point for our design of a community garden. The students have been doing extremely well, thus far even though I only introduced it on Thursday. I am hoping that soon they will feel comfortable enough to start posting at their homes.
ReplyDeleteVisited your blog today! I think it is fantastic...I'm impressed with the feedback from your students as well as some of your co-workers. Congrats! Can't wait to see this develop!
DeleteI am very nervous to start a blog, the main issue I am having is I do not think the freshman will be appropriate, how do I explain this to them before I start a blog. They need lots of rules and consequences, and I have had many students with behavior issues in my class (saying inappropriate things or unnecessary comments).
DeleteDear Class: I come to you from the business world. I have been a travel agent for 30 years (yes, I started at 13 years old...the Greek way)and the last two years, for Allstate Insurance. Technology has come a long way in these two industries as it has in many industries/fields including education. While I have been a technology fan, over the past few years, I have come to find the dark side of technology ( I am not referring to x-rated sites). I mean the cost in American jobs. You will find me excited and fatalistic at the same time because the internet has destroyed both the travel industry as well as the insurance industry (besides the politicians.)
ReplyDeleteWith that introduction, I am very excited to learn about blogging as well as all other technologies that can be incorporated in the classroom. One of my personal favorites from a previous class was actually GOOGLEDOCS.
One of my recent fears, especially with my daughter who is in 8th grade, is TEXTING. To many "LOL" and "OMG", etc. While some studies credit this as "language", I fail to see how this is langauge. Blogging allows the students to actually write well in traditional English. With the NCLB (2002) and the National Recruitment Act (2002), which was tied into the NCLB (2002), students need to contantly practice writing well as well as to refine their defending their point of view with supporting details. I believe the blog can accomplish both in one safe place. Students can help their classmates as well with constructive feedback. Utlimately, the classroom teacher will have to explain and model proper rules and procedures to avoid any negative situation which would harm classmates or open the school to legal action.
While I do not have a teaching job yet, I will have to try some of these technologies on my daughter and son. Wish me luck!
Thank you. Michael Hatzikostantis
Dear Class: I have to let all of you know that I am scared of computers. However, I am lokking forward to learning how to use a compuetr for more than microsoft word. Iwant to be able to learn different ways that a computer can be used for pleasure and for work. I look foward to learning from each and everyone of you. We are all learners and I guess that is why we are in this together.
ReplyDeleteL.Bunker
L.
DeleteI am not afraid of computers but they seem to hate me at times. My husband always laughs at me because he and I can try the same thing and it works for him and not for me. It is so frustrating!! I keep trying but when it takes you 3x as long as someone else do something it is frustrating. For example, I posted 15 comments or more this Sat. and when I got on this a.m. to comment on 2.1 stuff none of my comments had posted. I am in such a time crunch, grading, writing new curriculum for class etc. so to see that 1-2 hours of my time were wasted is frustrating to say the least.
I am also hoping to learn a lot this sememster and am excited to try but leary as well.
Tina
I have to admit I am a little hesitant to start a blog my first year teaching. I have so many things I am still getting used to, to throw something else in the mix seems very nerve racking. I also know that schools have privacy rules, I am not allowed to tweet with any of my students, and I am not sure what the school will think about blogging. I assume I need to ask permission to do this. Any suggestions?
ReplyDelete-Danielle
Danielle,
DeleteI would suggeste that you do ask permission and/or find out what your schools technology policy is. Some schools do not allow you to use anything where the students have to use and email account. Most blogs are set up that way. I have been using Kidblog.com because I did not have to use email accounts. I was able to choose their log in name.
As for being hesitant. Kidblog is very easy to set up. I would suggest using it once to see how it works. I tell you this because I felt the same way last semester (I teach by semesters). I took a chance and told the kids I posted a blog. All the kids logged on at home and blogged and then asked when the next one was. That for me was motivation to learn more about it. I now have it on the syllabus for this semester.
I will give you the advice I was given when I felt overwelmed - try one small thing at first and see how the kids respond. Then go from there. If you need help let me know and I will be happy to help you.