Before taking this course I never thought of using blogs as an educational tool. After I thought about it for a while, I thought it might be an innovative way to stay connected to my students and integrate technology in my classroom.
One thing I always to do in my class is science current events, at least once a week. My principal always stresses how important it is for students to stay up to date with the latest news, and I couldn't agree more. So my idea is to incorporate science current events into a blog. Each week the students would be responsible for finding a current event, related to science, that they find interesting. The students would go to the blog and post the link along with a short reflection on the current event. They may write something they found interesting or something that they agree or disagree with. Once everyone in the class posted their current event (I would set a due date), the other students would have to go the blog and read through a few current events and post their own reflection.
I feel that this blog would open up a discussion or debate between classmates, which is a great way for students to learn how to develop their own ideas and opinions on different topics. I also feel that students will like the idea of a blog since most students are so technology savvy. Also, I think that blogs would be great for shy students that are scared to share their thoughts in front of a classroom of their peers. By blogging, they can post their thoughts in the comfort of their own home.
I would use these blogs with my 8th and 9th grade Biology classes.
Yes, I completely agree! Blogging seems like the perfect opportunity for a shy child to share his or her thoughts and opinions with the whole class. If I worked with older children I would definitely use a blog for this purpose. On the other hand, since I work with Kindergarteners I would need to use my blog site as a more of a whole class experience. However, I would love o use current events on my site; even the younger children need to be aware of what is going on in the world around them to a certain degree. In order to use current events I would have to be the sole researcher and have my children offer their opinions and insights on the events they may have heard about at home.
ReplyDeleteOne challenge you may face with your students is developing the ability for them to discriminate between information that is reliable and information that may be questionable. However, this is a skill that could be taught and practiced through modeling and demonstrations. Therefore, with the proper introduction to blogging and Internet research, I believe this current event idea would flourish and provide many ideal learning opportunities within your classroom.
Yes, I completely agree! Blogging seems like the perfect opportunity for a shy child to share his or her thoughts and opinions with the whole class. If I worked with older children I would definitely use a blog for this purpose. On the other hand, since I work with Kindergarteners I would need to use my blog site as a more of a whole class experience. However, I would love o use current events on my site; even the younger children need to be aware of what is going on in the world around them to a certain degree. In order to use current events I would have to be the sole researcher and have my children offer their opinions and insights on the events they may have heard about at home.
ReplyDeleteOne challenge you may face with your students is developing the ability for them to discriminate between information that is reliable and information that may be questionable. However, this is a skill that could be taught and practiced through modeling and demonstrations. Therefore, with the proper introduction to blogging and Internet research, I believe this current event idea would flourish and provide many ideal learning opportunities within your classroom.
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ReplyDeleteKayla, I love this idea. I am sure the students will be much more motivated to do the assignment this way rather than typing up a paper and present it to the class. How will you trouble shoot for those students without the internet?
ReplyDeleteKayla -
ReplyDeleteAs a Social Studies teacher I love everything about your idea. First I absolutely love the fact you stay up with current events, and kudos to your administrator for encouraging that. I also think that letting students post opinions adn ideas about the events on a blog is a tremendous way to improve learning. As Social Studies teachers we spend a lot of our PLC time looking for ways to make students responsible, critical thinkers. To think of someone in another subjet area doing something like this is awesome.
One challenge I forsee would be when students opinions conflict. The tendencies I have found is students who are psoting are more open about their ideas. Now, this can be good, but it could also lead to things getting heated. For that reason I would set strict limits with my students.
Hi Kayla,
ReplyDeleteI really like your current events idea. I also have the same thinking with my math class blog site, having the students interact and share ideas regarding topics directly related to what we're learning in class or current events in the math and science world. I would suggest that occasionally, post a science issue for students, or groups of students, to come up with solutions to solve the problem. That would be exciting.
I also agree with you that the blog will open up a discussion or a friendly debate between the students in class. If anything, it's a great opportunity to teach them about cyberbullying and how to act appropriately online.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Kim
I think that incorporating current events into your blog post sounds like a wonderful idea. You will have to post how they like this. Also using a blog as a discussion I think is a great idea especially the point that it does allow those shy kids who do not like talking in front of kids, to participate in the discussion. Great Post
ReplyDeleteI think this is a wonderful idea! Students love science and allowing them to choose a topic that interests them would make them more excited and more willing to take part and complete this task because it also allows them to use a computer which they also really enjoy. I think it is very important that students learn to have discussions because it teaches them that everyone has a different opinion and that its okay to think differently but you must also learn to respect and accept that we are not all the same and we do not all think the same either. I think that allowing your students the chance to explore and contribute their ideas blogging on a topic of their interest will also help them in their decisions of choosing a career especially being of high school age. Good post!
ReplyDeleteKayla,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your administration. The students I teach have a problem with knowing what is happening in the community, let alone the world. I tell them that these explorations, cures, and tradegies will affect them in the long run (negatively, positively, or both). Will these current events be limited to specific science field (medication, etc.) or will you place the most exciting events that you feel are relevant to your students? Lastly, I love the way the blog will open up into a debate sessions. Students need to know that their views are important as well. Have you taken steps on getting this blog started?
Nikisha
I love the idea of a current event response every week, how will you keep track of this and what will your expectations be. Will they be required to make an original post and then comment to a couple of classmates? Will keeping track of postings and kids be time consuming. My biggest question is how I am going to make kids accountable and also myself accountable for keeping track of the kids and the kids of posts they are making. We teachers want students to make thoughtful comments, not just comments to say they have completed the assignment. I know sometimes I underestimate kids and the issues I try to anticipate never even show up, maybe if kids know everyone will reading they will rise to the occasion. Thanks for the ideas and good luck, and have fun.
ReplyDeleteFinding a way to use blogs incorporating an already existent issue about your class seems perfect. When technology appears it is easy to overload our students with a thousand tasks to cover. It is true that this kind of web 2.0 resources are super motivating but it is also true that to make them right requires a lot of time and though work. Are you planning to have everyone publish an event at the same time? Probably having one or two students in charge of the initial post every week will be a good way of guaranteeing that there is always movement on your blog. Everyone else will be asked to comment on the week event, post their opinion about related issues or probable conflicts derive from science discoveries, and provide links to further information or similar events going on somewhere else in the globe.
ReplyDeleteHi Kayla, your blog looks great. I was wondering how many of your students have access to a computer at home? If students do not have access at home, are they able to get to a library for access? Would a parent night help roll out the use of your blog in case students need help getting access? I'm asking because I anticipate these questions for my own 7th graders!
ReplyDeleteKayla,
ReplyDeleteI think it’s great that you are going to use your classroom blog to allow your students to post and respond to current events that involve science. This is a great way for your students to make connections to what they are learning as well as a great way for them to see just how relevant the information they learn is.
I plan to incorporate a blog into my classroom as well. Instead of having students post right away I plan to gradually introduce them to the different features and things that they can do while blogging. I think by asking your students to start blogging right away you may not get the responses that you expect, or the quality of response you were looking for. Do you plan on allowing parents access to your blog as well? Will your blog have any additional components that may benefit your students? The use of your blog will benefit your students in that it will allow them to see the relevance of what they are learning, and how it connects to the real world. I think your students are going to enjoy their experience blogging with your class.
Kayla,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assertion that blogs would be beneficial to your more shy students. I find that many of my students are willing to talk to me about their art work one on one but do not like being put on the spot in front of their classmates. I feel that this is a wonderful tool for students who prefer to express themselves through writing rather than verbally.
I am wondering if your students would have to research a current science event and cite where they found their information. I recently assigned students a topic to research and then they had to create a PowerPoint presentation as their culminating product. I found that their power points were visually pleasing and they had great images and video clips to support their topics but many of them gave their opinions as factual information throughout the presentation. Would you require your students to include a site that their classmates could visit to form their own opinions on the issue?
Kayla,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assertion that blogs would be beneficial to your more shy students. I find that many of my students are willing to talk to me about their art work one on one but do not like being put on the spot in front of their classmates. I feel that this is a wonderful tool for students who prefer to express themselves through writing rather than verbally.
I am wondering if your students would have to research a current science event and cite where they found their information. I recently assigned students a topic to research and then they had to create a PowerPoint presentation as their culminating product. I found that their power points were visually pleasing and they had great images and video clips to support their topics but many of them gave their opinions as factual information throughout the presentation. Would you require your students to include a site that their classmates could visit to form their own opinions on the issue?