I teach fourth grade Reading, Social Studies and Language Arts. Under the required AKS(Academic Knowledge & Skills) the students are to use Standard American English, be able to solicit and respond to questions, comments or ideas of others. At the beginning of the school year, I decided I wanted to do a classroom blog in which students will be able to comment and respond to the ideas of their peers on different Social Studies topics or Reading topics. The technology teacher insisted that I not do that due to the lack of control I would be able to have on the student's post.
My idea was to allow one of our days in the school computer lab to be designated just for blogging. I think the students would love to blog about topics discussed in the classroom. We are currently learning about the American Revolution and the students are really pumped about the war. Before reading on the war, the students discussed the events leading up to the war thoroughly. The students chose a side to be on in the war and after reading on the war, the students would discuss if their position changed and why. I think using the blog for this lesson and activity would be a great idea. I would have the students use my blog just created in the computer lab and post on their position before the war. While reading about the war, the students would visit the blog to respond or comment on their classmates ideas. At the end of the war, the students would return to the blog stating any change in position with the war.
It seems that one of the challenges you have is getting your district to allow these new types of technology. I would like to use blogs in my classroom, but my district does not allow them for the same reason as your district. Has your district discussed the possibility of acquiring this technology? While I think your solution is a good one, I think that students would be much more engaged and excited about being able to create their own blog. It is too bad that there are so many hurdles when it comes to integrating technology in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe first year that I began blogging with students, it was with a 5th grade class and they were learning about the civil war. It was a great way to share ideas and discuss thoughts that the students had as they learned. I found that students who otherwise didn't share ideas in class discussions had wonderful thoughts and ideas to share on the blog. I wish you luck as you blog with your students! You'll learn as much as they do!
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