The course material this week has turned me into a believer in blogs in the classroom. The possibilities are nearly endless. I love how the integration covers so many content standards across the curriculum board including the hidden curriculum--teaching students how to interact properly with their peers in a social environmental. I have to say, I was a bit skeptical at the thought of utilizing a "blog" because I did not realize how serious the kids become when they realize what they are typing is read by the whole world. It changes them at the core of their being as a learner.
In my classroom, not unlike Mrs. Kathy Martin in the DVD program, I would easily be able to utilize a blog as a means of journaling for my students. At the beginning of every class, we write in what I call an "Inquiry Journal" where I pose a science question (usually related to what we are studying) and students respond in the form of discussion. In most cases, we run out of time right when the discussion is getting good. The blog would offer a way for the class to continue those discussions.
I am definitely going to attempt to begin a blog for my classes next year...and I cannot wait to see what kind of discussion and valuable learning will take place!
How would you utilize a blog in your classroom?
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I personally love journal writing at the end of class to give students a chance to reflect on the day's topics and recognize questions they may have that need immediate answers. I have two questions about your idea, though.
ReplyDeleteOne, would these students need to complete their blog entry at home? I ask only as it pertains to those students without internet access from a home computer. Only about half of my class has access at home, so it would be difficult for me expect it from everyone. Your situation could very easily be different.
Second, what types of questions do you use in your classroom that would warrant a blog? I suppose the questions would have to be able to be answered in numerous ways so that you don't have 25 responses that all reflect the same thought process. I love your idea, but with my 5th grade class I'd be worried that I couldn't come up with enough questions. You obviously have many questions already planned out, though, so I was just curious what an example of one would be.
Check out my blog and let me what you think about the reading idea if you wouldn't mind.
I like the idea of using a blog to continue a discussion, but like Mr. Scott said above time may be an issue with the internet too. An easy solution to this would be to continue the journal writing in class, but then to extend one journal entry for an entire week in a blog. This will still allow you to ask a question each day, but then allow for extended discussion on a topic of the week. It will also solve the problem for those students who do not have internet access because they have week to respond allowing them to find the internet somewhere (the library, a friend, another family member). I too would love to start using a blog next year with my math students on problems of the week.
ReplyDeleteI too question how the students might all make a journal entry. Perhaps you could have a "question of the week" and then let all of the students have the opportunity of responding by way of class computer or the computer lab. This would alleviate any problems with students who may not have internet access at home.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking too, a science class would be a great way to use wikipedias on the class blog. The class could brainstorm about topics they have knowledge about. By use of the wikipedias, the students could publish what they know, add to others knowledge, or correct content on the blog. I really like the idea of the wikipedias.
To go off of Joe's comment, I also like your idea. Journaling is great for students so they can just write, without needing to worry about being right or wrong. A question I have is how you would incorporate this into the beginning of class? Do you have access to computers everyday to get the students blogging? Also, what kind of motivation would the students have to continue the discussion. The idea seems great, but when I think about my class, some students just do the minimum that is required. Would you tell them to post a certain number of times?
ReplyDelete"Techteach" raises good questions. My mind immediately went to integrating this idea into the end-of-class journaling, however, I wonder about ideas in using it at the beginning of class. Perhaps you could have journaling at the end of the class, then at the beginning of the class, project the blog onto a screen and show everyone what was posted the day before. That way you could influence the longevity of the blog by adding new insight or questions to be discussed later.
ReplyDeleteI also like the suggestions from "Groovy Gal" and Mr. Severino. A weekly blog would alleviate the necessity for immediate internet access.
"Groovy Gal" talked about wikipedia also. I don't think I know enough about wikipedia, but from what I know, I worry that it influences the validity of some research. I have been on wikipedia several times where I found inaccurate information. I sometimes wonder if, once we expose our students to this technology, that they will make bad decisions (as children/teenagers tend to do) and post about things they shouldn't, especially in a media where sources are not readily checked.
As mentioned by many others, access to the Internet can be a challenge. Many of my students either do not have access at home or are English Language Learners and lack the English support at home necessary for written homework. Even at school time restraints may prove difficult for ELL students(not to mention the still emerging reading and writing skills of first graders). How would you address ELL students when blogging?
ReplyDeleteIn my class I use a jump start that is a review from the previous day. It would be great to post some of them on a blog and have the students answer them. That way the students will have to think about the questions more than once and I can post the correct answers for the students so they can see them and have them to refer to. I can also see using the blog to post homework assignments for so they would be online for the students.
ReplyDelete