I'm new to blogging and excited about discovering ways to incorporate their use into my lessons and classroom. My first intention is to start a blog as a class portal. I will post class information, content, links to enriching sites on topics, and a calendar. I think it will be beneficial to students who are absent who can visit the site and retrieve ppt. notes or assignments they missed as well as parents and administrators who can follow what we are studying and how. In addition, students who have questions or ideas can post them and possibly get an answer from another student or myself without waiting until the next class period.
I am very interested in using blogs as a learning tool. I teach 9th grade Physical Science in the Cleveland School District. I keep getting hung up on the idea that my students will be hesitant to participate in an "academic" conversation regarding our topics. Again... that anxiety about the unknown!
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Blogging in HS is a great idea. Could your students blog about experiments?
ReplyDeleteMolly,
ReplyDeleteI think it would be smart to start off small with blogging and just use it as a link to what's going on in the classroom. I think by starting that way it can easily bridge over into more educational concepts, and not just what's due next week. Also, in the beginning students may drag their feet to get into an educational discussion, but because it's actually online and they aren't having to stand up in front of the class and talk about things, they may be more willing to do it. Technology is definitely opening up new doors for educators. Good luck on blogging in the classroom!
Hey Molly,
ReplyDeleteI like how you are planning to use your blog so that parents, students and administrators can keep up on what you are doing. I had an idea though. You said that you are in a Cleveland District, so I thought that there are probably some other high school who offer the same classes that you do, but in another building. Perhaps your blog could be a way for you to get all of the other 9th grade physical science teachers together and get ideas from each other. I am planning on starting a blog with the other teacher in my building who teaches geometry like I do. Do you think that would work?
Tyler Winner
Molly,
ReplyDeleteI really like the open access for students to be able to observe the topics discussed in class. Looking back at my high school education, I could definitely see how beneficial that would have been. One of my teachers had a SMARTboard in his class and was able to save the notes and attach them to his website. Although I never used them, it was great to know that it was an option.
Do you feel that posting this information on a blog would be more beneficial than having your own website?
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteGreat idea about creating a community of Physical Science teachers in the district. I am going to try it! I know PS teachers from at least 5 other buildings and it may just really take off. Thanks!
Molly
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure what the pros and cons are. They seem so similar(website vs. blog). I guess a blog is more interactive? Is blogging the natural evolution of a website? I'm learning so much and amazed at all the ideas and doors that seem to be opening to us as educators! I'm starting to realize that no matter how long I teach, I should always be taking courses to improve my skills!
Molly,
ReplyDeleteI have found that blogging and websites are so very similar as well. With blogging, I guess you can follow it more easily with the RSS feed, which I never knew existed until this class. Intead of checking it daily, students/parents would be able to see when new comments were added. I am sure we will learn many more ways to incorporate educational tools to blogs. It has only been 2 weeks, and I have already learned so much! This should be a really interesting course. Thanks!