Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thoughts on blogs
I think if you worked in a school that had a 1:1 laptop ratio, blogs would be an excellent resource. You could post a daily question and have students post a response to it daily. I feel it would be very difficult to use in a "normal" classroom setting because you may not have access to computers at all times. Also if you were to give it as an assignment, some students may not be able to access the blog at home. All in all, however I feel in our ever technological changing world, there is a place for blogs in the future classroom.
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Good point. You are the first entry I saw to discuss how without computer access the use of blogs is limited. Especially as blogs do require a greater amount of time to interact with than say Facebook where you can just hop online, make a status update, and log off.
ReplyDeleteThe computer to student ratio is very important when considering incorporting blogs into the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI teach at the college level, so most all of my students come with their own computer/ipad. A problem I have had is that they are on them when they shouldn't be. I feel like the technology police! Cell phones are bad enough! Any advice?
ReplyDeleteI see that as a problem too, since I teach middle school. A lot of kids have to use the computers in the library during homeroom, or on their own time. I am very flexible with my students who have to use the computers in the classroom. I know some of them just want to use them to play games, which is tough to monitor, because they be very sneaky.
ReplyDeleteI also have some parents who are very strict about their children using computers. They are not allowed to have facebook or use youtube. I would encourage parents to become apart of the blog and show them how helpful it is.
Can a blog be accessed from another device such as a Kindle? Or are they just readers?
ReplyDeleteOur high school is 1 to 1, and I've had several teachers there that have been working on effectively and consistently implementing them into their curriculum. Many of them have expressed concern for the added freedom that blogs give to the students (almost as though it would be a free reign email/text environment.) Once the blog is unlocked for school purposes, the firewall won't prevent it for personal purposes either. The others have stated that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. I guess I would contend that student have been and will continue to find ways to communicate with each other whether it be a written note, texting, or via computer. We just need to harness that communication to increase our productivity in some way. I appreciate your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI know this post is late, but you do all make some good points. Mr. Fesler, I say keep doing what you're doing. Even if they have another 1 or 2 apps or programs open on their computer, if they are following along with you in the blog, they are engaged. Remember, that at any given time, most of us are multitasking several different things, especially when our computer is open!
ReplyDeleteMary, I agree that Facebook would be quicker, but I think that since blogs are more involving and the students HAVE to read to know what's going on, that is the main point. Its kind of like going to class to get the lesson. You have to show up and listen in order to get what you need.
I love the idea of blogs, but since I teach 1st grade, I'm pretty limited as far as students using it. If I teach middle school in the future, this would be probably one of the first things I would introduce them too! Great ideas everyone!