When we received our first assignment regarding technology and how it can be used in the classroom I strangely felt very out of date. This made me laugh quit a bit thinking I am a graphic designer who works on computers daily yet has never written a blog, been on twitter, and still can not get my skype to make a call. I find it quite funny and really think this class will help me get hip with the times and begin using the internet and technology as a resource.
A blog can be used like a virtual diary that can be posted for everyone to see. It creates a personal space that allows the writer to express thought, ideas, images or anything else that interests them. It also creates the ability for others to comment on what is writing. This seems like a very general description but it really creates a virtual billboard for a persons thoughts.
With this in mind I thought understanding the world of blogs and how it can be a helpful resource for the teaching community as well as for the students. The first sight I found focused on teachers and creating a community where teachers can support one another. This was extremely interesting to me because it brought a new perspective to how blogs can be used. It creates a space where teachers can come together with questions, thoughts, examples and anything else an educator would like to discuss.
The concept that anyone can be involved really appealed to me. This could create a way for students from different areas to connect with other people in the world. Blogs can be the pin-pal of our world today connecting people and ideas. The visual combination a blogger can create can also make the blog a great place to share visual ideas and finds on the internet.
The appeal of the blog is that it creates a personal space that others can read and comment on. For an educator it can create a place for discussions, examples, extend thoughts on a topic or even inform others what is happening in their community and classroom. Blogs in any form is the spreading of information and can be used to do so.
Here are some blogs I found that I enjoyed.
http://classroomblogging.wordpress.com/about-classroomblogging/
http://artjunction.org/blog/
http://www.101cookbooks.com/about/
http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/
We're in the same boat! I was totally intimidated by this method of communication as this class got started. However, I have learned to REALLY appreciate reading posts on here vs on the traditional disccussion board. The color, the graphics, the links ALL make the overall interaction much more positive learning experience. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how I could manage such a place with 100 or so 7th graders....hmmmm....
ReplyDeleteI watched the Voicethread, and each song seemed to have some good merit to it – they were all pretty sing-songy. Mainly, I thought this was a great way for students to participate in a sort of democratic way through recording and text. They could listen to the recordings, chat in real-time, and voice their opinions through text and drawing. While I don’t think this is any different than students playing their songs for the class and the class voting without the technology, Voicethread definitely seems to accommodate students who are tech-savy and resourceful enough to use a platform like this to express their ideas. In a way, I think it’s rewarding to scrap the paper and pencil and use computers and software like Finale that allows students to collaborate in a new way and create something original. I also like that the teacher gave the students a variety of categories [Choice!] to nominate each songs. There wasn’t just one category – “Best Song” – but a variety to choose from. I imagine that simply choosing a “Best Song” might lead to some hurt feelings – with multiple categories, each group has a better chance of coming out a winner!
ReplyDeleteOne of the most exciting ideas of a blog to me is the idea of hyperlinks and integration of multimedia resources. Authors can do so much more than a paper to showcase their ideas and talents. As a reader I can quickly scan a post to see the general idea and then review it to comprehend the material.
ReplyDeleteI also am fascinated by the open nature of blogging and what it means for our democracy. The ability for anyone to set up (and in a way publish) their blog for the world to view is thrilling to me. If I have a good idea millions and millions of people can read it and learn. That's so hard to do with books or written materials.
I think the particular blogging platform you use for your classroom would be key - you'd most likely want one that allows you to moderator both the posts and/or comments to ensure appropriateness. I've seen some teachers from the local elementary schools use blogs as a way to communicate directly with parents posting classroom information, homework assignments, and other updates. Given that it's so easy to lose a piece of paper it makes a lot of sense to me. Parents can also ask questions of the teachers to further clarify.
I'd say give it a try!