My classroom is an inclusion group of special and regular education students. Thus I am forever seeking activities that level the playing feel and give all students frequent opportunities to contribute in some meaningful way. As a result, I would use my blog as a class archive. In order to make this work, I’d have one student serve as a class recorder who enters a summary of activities and material learned. This allows children the opportunity to review materials, check on materials missed in class, and practice for our standardized testing. Students would enjoy the added responsibility of “checking on-line” at their class site.
This provides help for students who miss class and review materials for everyone, especially before our major CRCT test at the end of the year. The rest of the class can add additional information and corrections in the comments. Students would need to be able to synthesize, one of my major goals for my students, what they have learned in order to be able to be successful. By reading the blogs I would be able to quickly assess my students understanding of what was taught. Also, other students would be adding their ideas and making any necessary corrections of their classmate, thus providing an authentic audience.
Additionally, students can post questions and comments to me. Although it is secondary that I believe these posts would provide me with hours of enjoyment, it will offer me an insight into the children’s mind as well as a snapshot into their comprehension. But the greatest achievement comes with the less active students posting ideas and suggestions free of embarrassment and fear of ridicule. If my vision is fulfilled, students would feel free to correct others and provide support and encouragement.
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How else do you think you can use a blog to help students review for the CRCT?
ReplyDeleteLauren, I like the idea, but will you change the recorder each day or week? Some students might like to take on that responsibility too. Don't limit yourself to prep for the CRCT...I think that once you get going on this, you will find other things to include. I feel that once you and your students get your feet 'wet' in blogging that the students will take off on editing and correcting each other without embarrassment. I think you have a really wonderful idea of the whole 'class archive'. I believe that it would help on missed assignments!
ReplyDeleteMelissa,
ReplyDeleteMy original idea was to change the blog recorder weekly, however after reflection, I believe I would have various students blog each day in different content specific areas. This will provide more opportunities for more students to blog.
Sadly, I am in the same position as Arielle (http://ariellebook.blogspot.com/2009/01/to-blog-or-notthat-is-question.html). My county does not support student blogging in schools. I'm hoping that through my course of study, I obtain enough research to persuade them to relook at this policy.
Thank you for your input.
I think the idea of leveling the playing field is something we all try to achieve in the classroom. I noted on my site that I thought using a blog in the classroom would help those students who had difficulty writing physically or even those who have trouble with spelling.
ReplyDeleteOn your initial post you mentioned having one student be responsible for a days worth of work (posting it). I was concerned that this might be a consuming task for one student. Then I read your response and you mentioned having multiple students blog in different subjects. I think that would work better and it would help keep more students involved at the same time.
I do wonder about one thing though. When you stated that students could correct mistakes (on the archive) by other students who have posted but at the same time the blog would be used for test preparation, do you have any concerns that students would miss corrections when they are reviewing the material for the test? Also, how exactly would a student access another students blog to edit or would they just say what they think needs to be corrected?
I am still surprised by school districts who will let students search the internet for research but won't let them use it to blog. Is that what your situation is? It doesn't make sense to me.
Hello Dawn,
ReplyDeleteYou make a provacative point. In my vision, there would be few, to no, mistakes. But in reality my plan would be to constantly monitor the blog entries, and direct the student recorder to edit the mistake(s), or make it like a game for others in the class to locate the misinformation. There would only be one class blog, and I would be the only one with editing access.
Not having access to blogs through my district, makes no sense to me either. As I mentioned in my discussion post, it is quite the paradox. We teach our students to be good citizens, what their rights and responsibilities as members
of our society are. In my opinion, it is now our responsibility to help students develop responsible behavior in the digital world by engaging them in discussion of these categories and guiding them through safe experiences in the global universe. Not allowing students to use these tools in schools will only perpetuate unsafe interactions.
Thank you for offering me the opportunity to further reflect upon my classroom blogging plan.
I am not sure what advice to give you as far as your county goes. Unless you could go ahead and create the blog for this year as an example to show what a useful tool it could be in the following years.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of having a class recorder, this takes the pressure off of you to be the blog master, and provides an opportunity for the students to be responsible and learn the technology. Have you used a wiki before? I am wondering if your concept would be better served with it VS a Blogg. what are your thoughts on it?
ReplyDeleteHello James,
ReplyDeleteI have not used a wiki page before, nor have I used a blog before, with my students. As my use of these Web 2.0 technologies becomes more proficient, I will keep your suggestion in mind so I can evaluate the benefits of both for my students. Thank you for your suggestion.
Ms. Held,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of having various students responsible for the updates. However, if students feel like they would be riduculed for sharing their comments in class, won't they feel the sameway if someone who is "picking" on them in class will start to "pick" on their blog? Do you plan on preventing cyber bullying?
I like your idea of making your blog a place where students can review the things they have been going over. I also see it as a resource for parents who want to know more about what happens on a daily basis in your classroom. I think that if you did implement this and had all of your students take turns it would get them comfortable with the format and you could take student blogging to the next level. I think the real power of the blog is excercised for students in creation and collaboration, similar to what we, as students, are exercising right now. It sounds like you have access to one computer, possibly more, perhaps after students get comfortable with the plan you would like to implement you could expand your blog to a weekly question that students could access one at a time or in small groups and add something to the discussion. This could be something related to topics being studied in class so students can build off what their learning. For the purpose of being able to synthesize, I think your idea is really great and I think that it is a very practical way to go about it. My question is, would you be open to expanding the classroom blog to engage more communication and peer scaffolding type activities?
ReplyDeleteJason
Hello Kelbel,
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom, I strive to create a community of learners. We spend a lot of time practicing, and modeling, the respectful, responsible way to interact with each other. I have every intention of doing the same when we enter the cyber world. While I cannot guarantee there will not be students who choose to test the boundaries, I can guarantee that I will be actively, and consistently, monitoring what is posted by my students. I do not intend on stifling their creativity, or editing their work, but I will make sure nothing gets posted without prior approval. This will allow me to prevent students from bullying other students, and to be aware it is happening before any damage can be done. My plan however is to be proactive, and to not just let my students start blogging without intense modeling of what is expected of them.
When I wrote, "But the greatest achievement comes with the less active students posting ideas and suggestions free of embarrassment and fear of ridicule" I was referring to internal fear. Many fifth graders are self-conscious, and don't want to say something "silly". With the opportunity to write and reflect, I believe those students, and the shy students, will feel more comfortable. Having not had the experience of blogging with my students yet, I just hope that this would be the outcome.
Thank you for allowing me to address this.
Jason,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support. I would be very open to expanding the classroom blog to engage more communication and peer scaffolding type activities. Would you be willing to give me some suggestions as to how I would go about accomplishing this? I am always open new ways of engaging my students while teaching 21st century skills.
I look forward to hearing some of your ideas.
A blog can be so much more than just a place for students to review material. Check it out: http://waterforsixthgrade.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete