I have often used journals to promote writing fluency. For some students these work really well. I think blogging could bridge the gap between a personal writing journal and the MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter postings many (most?) of my students are already making.
The idea of connecting a student blog to a specific course of study makes a lot of sense and I think there might be a traditional, low-tech analog available for kids without Internet access and a computer or messaging phone. Computer lab time or traditional paper-type journals might provide an avenue for everyone to contribute.
What if students were given an opportunity to partner with others? In the same way that NHS students volunteer to tutor, would some students be willing to publish posts on behalf of classmates who don't have access? For example, student A doesn't have computer access so she hand writes postings into a journal. Student B updates the blog and returns comments and other replies so that student A can review them offline.
I know this wouldn't be ideal, but it might be a suitable workaround for cases where not every student in a class could participate outside of the classroom. Who knows? there might be some cooperative learning benefits in this as well.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Things 1/2
I'm really excited about the idea of finding ways to integrate technology into my classes. I personally use the computers and the Internet for almost everything I do--writing, photography, music, research, planning, everything!
I'd like to think that my ways of working are more similar to the way my students do things, but I think the truth is that I'm a late bloomer and I'm using old-school stuff. Texting, podcasts, SNS, Skype, if I don't work at these things, it won't take long and I'll be unable to communicate with my students at all.
When I think about the potential for individual student results, for a classroom, department, building and district, it's just awe inspiring. Teacher collaboration and coordination alone could make a huge difference in the way students connect. Imagine being able to build on the lessons that your students were learning earlier in the day or week! It would be great to give Language Arts assignments that leveraged the science and social studies lessons.
I have to admit that it's a little intimidating to think that parents and administrators in the buidling and district could listen to and comment on specific classroom discussions, but I'm sure that would eventually result in big improvements in the way all of us do our jobs. And it would be great if it meant that parents universally felt more involved in the things their kids were doing.
I'm open to almost anything, but I have to wonder about what unforeseen consequences and problems might be created by some of the technology. Does anyone remember the idea that computers would enable the 'paperless office?' If anything there's more paper than there has ever been!
One last thought: I hope the idea of producing lessons in a way that makes them more portable and accessible will encourage everyone to take writing more seriously. I believe writing is a key skill, but it's also a skill that can never be mastered or perfected. We all need to be vigilant about the quality of our writing and the reduction of mistakes.
I'd like to think that my ways of working are more similar to the way my students do things, but I think the truth is that I'm a late bloomer and I'm using old-school stuff. Texting, podcasts, SNS, Skype, if I don't work at these things, it won't take long and I'll be unable to communicate with my students at all.
When I think about the potential for individual student results, for a classroom, department, building and district, it's just awe inspiring. Teacher collaboration and coordination alone could make a huge difference in the way students connect. Imagine being able to build on the lessons that your students were learning earlier in the day or week! It would be great to give Language Arts assignments that leveraged the science and social studies lessons.
I have to admit that it's a little intimidating to think that parents and administrators in the buidling and district could listen to and comment on specific classroom discussions, but I'm sure that would eventually result in big improvements in the way all of us do our jobs. And it would be great if it meant that parents universally felt more involved in the things their kids were doing.
I'm open to almost anything, but I have to wonder about what unforeseen consequences and problems might be created by some of the technology. Does anyone remember the idea that computers would enable the 'paperless office?' If anything there's more paper than there has ever been!
One last thought: I hope the idea of producing lessons in a way that makes them more portable and accessible will encourage everyone to take writing more seriously. I believe writing is a key skill, but it's also a skill that can never be mastered or perfected. We all need to be vigilant about the quality of our writing and the reduction of mistakes.
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