I teach high school sociology and world history. Last year I experimented with a classroom blog, and I would like to try it again. I have noticed that when I lead the class in an oral discussion, I get limited participation. Most of my students to do not participate even though I know each one has a valuable perspective on a given topic.
I think blogs provide a forum for every student to have their voice heard. Often in social studies classrooms when students write, the only person that reads their work is the teacher. They are writing for an audience of one. The quality of student work improves when they know that their peers and potentially anyone in the world could read their thoughts. Blogs are done anonymously so it gives students the freedom to say what they think without the fear of embarrassment or ridicule.
I wonder how much class time should be dedicated to blogging. Should blogging be something students do at home, in class, or a little bit of both? Because internet access is essential to blogging, it also means that while students are blogging, they also have access to the treasure trove of resources that is the www. This encourages students to research.
I believe that blogging also holds teachers accountable to devise and deliver sound lesson plans. If all stakeholders involved in the education process can view and participate in the virtual classroom, it means teachers are constantly being evaluated, perhaps more than ever. This is a good thing because, it forces teachers to be prepared, but the increased need to update the blog and or classroom website can lead to stress and fatigue in the already busy lives of teachers. Sadly, many classroom and school websites are not updated frequently enough.
Teachers who use blogging in the classroom need to ready to manage this monster that they are creating. Blogs are exciting and effective learning tools, but teachers need to let the blogs work for them, and not work for the blogs. Blogs, like other Web 2.0 tools, are so dynamic that they can take on a life of their own; the challenge is to manage the monster’s life so that it is positive, productive, and focused on learning.
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Paul,
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can think that my be challenging is finding a way for students who do not have computer access at home to blog. I really am considering starting a blog soon with my 6ht graders, however, I know that several students do not have access to a computer at home. I think speding time in the media center or computer lab would allow these students to practice and a chance to complete the assignment. Although Dr. Thornnburgh mentions that many technological devices are becoming less and less expensive (Laureate Education Inc., 2007), it still is too much for some. It seems wierd to think that some kids today do not have computers at home, but it is a reality.
Doug Gunter
MS social studies
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2007). Program 6. Technology and Society [Motion Picture]. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society. Baltimore: Author.
Wow, Paul you gave may something to think about while considering blogging in my classroom. I think you also presented your own challenge faced with teachers having to deal with so many other dutiful tasks, How much time would there really be available for blogs to be updated frequently when the regular school website or teacher sites like SchoolNotes.com cannot keep up the pace? I find that I have a hard time keeping up with it myself, planning lessons, entering grades, communicating with parents, assessing students work, and the list goes on and on. I firmly belief that Weblogs are a viable and valuable tool as our text states, but I do not think that teachers will be able to dedicate too much of their time towards it unless they are changing the way they present their current lessons from their curriculum to include blogging as a requirement. Students would also have to be completely on board with having the connectivity or else teachers would have to have the paper and pencil way and the blog format of lessons. That is double work if you ask me. Some assignments may be to test the waters with students would work for now in my case and many other teachers. When the schools are more technically inclined and students have the access, then I see blogging as a way to the future. Maybe in a couple of more years we all will be on board.
ReplyDeleteHey Paul,
ReplyDeleteYou said you experimented with a blog in your last years class. Could you elaborate on how it worked for you? What did you use it for? Did students comment?
I think you're right when you say student work improves when they know it's not just the teacher who will read it. If fact, that's the first thing my students ask. "Are we going to have to share this?"
The challenges I see with starting and keeping a blog in the class is what you've already posed. How do we keep up with the blog? How do we manage it? If we choose to use the blog as part of their assignments, how are we supposed to keep track of who posts and who doesn't? It sounds like an awful lot of work for something my students won't even be able to use during school.
More blogging thoughts...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I have learned that using blogs and classroom websites can seem like it is doing double the work. It is, if the teacher is still doing things the "old way". Once teachers become proficient at using these new technologies and are comfortable, it is good to go all in, to use a classroom website, blogging, podcasts, etc. as the primary way of conducting classroom business. That way it does not feeling like the teacher is doing something extra, but rather using technology to do things better. Last year when I used blogs, I had weekly or bi-weekly assignment. Just like any other assignment, I had students who "owned" it and did an excellent job, students who did not do it, and students who put forth a minimal effort just to get by. That being said, blogs are not the cure-all for student motivation, but learning through blogs provides a more interactive educational tool to improve student literacy and technology skills.
Paul