Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Thing 3 Reflections
I am hoping that blogging may end up being another learning modality that will reach more students that otherwise may not have been clicked with. I am thinking that I'd first use a blog format to have students comment, reflect on their own work and thereby they would influence the work of other students, especially when they are working on a project. So in effect, this would end up being a form of presenting their work with more reflection on their part. However, I think they would respond with wariness and hesitation since it would be interpreted as more work to be completed on their part and another deadline to be met. I have great frustration in having them log on to my website to get vital information. They are 8th graders and still just want to email me their questions - even as general as - I was sick, did I miss anything?. So my cynicism as in regards to their blogging is my concern, as well as parental concerns as to their child's internet safety since they may regard this blogging as internet chatroom thing that they hear about on the news. So I would first have to educate the parents as to what the blogging is and what it entails.
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I came here to respond to a question you posted on the main 23 Things site, but your question here and approach are compelling. I posted some thoughts about it on my blog for Thing 3: http://wb4all.blogspot.com/2010/03/teachers-thing-3.html
ReplyDeleteThe projects students do would not be redundant work if their final products are on the blog, or if they can upload the files. It's a great way to explore that, and as Differentiated Instruction is part of the district's mission, it opens opportunities for students to show what they know and don't know. This is exciting work your doing! :)
You asked, "Would students and parents use blogging to get that info more frequently than clicking onto a school's/teachers' websites?"
ReplyDeletePerhaps. Students and parents go where it's easiest and convenient. Like all of us. :) Is it possible to place a link on you district page to your blog? This would allow for easy navigation. Blogs have rss feed links that parents and students can add to their browser so that every time you update, the results are sent automatically to the person's email. (More of that tool comes later in the 23 things.)
Regarding using blogging for project posting, that's a great idea. If the final product is on a blog, the multimedia options and hence respecting diversity of learning styles is supported. Can't wait to learn what you try next.
You wrote:
ReplyDeleteI have great frustration in having them log on to my website to get vital information. They are 8th graders and still just want to email me their questions - even as general as - I was sick, did I miss anything?.
My Response:
It might seem like a difficult task initially to get the students to look at the blog for all the information but if that is the only way they can get the information...they are going to go.
I totally agree with WB4All's comments. Use blog for project posting is a great idea and I can see students getting excited about this.