Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Blogging the Classroom
I would use a blog for students to share with students from other classes. They could share character journals, answers to their questions, and discussions over controversial topics. If I could teach the British point of view on the Revolutionary war in global class and then a detailed American point of view in eleventh grade US History, they could discuss a common event.I teach an 8th Grade Social Studies class US History 1865 to Present, 9th grade Global I and 11th grade US History (block). I think just allowing students to share what they find interesting on a topic will help get other students interested as well. I think being able to join in the discussion and help guide it along while providing places and ways to find their answers would be an incredible tool for learning.
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For those students who do not prefer history, how would you get them to buy into it?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the requirments for the character journals? Do you have all of your students create a journal or just a grade level? I like your idea of also using the blog to have both classes discuss a common event.
ReplyDeleteI have not yet figured just how to complete the character journals. I would like to have students be able to see others but without access to blogs at school, I am assuming it would be more difficult. The requirements are any record of a day every other day?Daily?, written entry, drawing of the day, google tour, news paper clipping, newscast, video, just to think of a few, most of these require a short "thoughts" write up. My first problem is creating a concrete grading rubric for all the different ways in which this can be completed.
ReplyDeleteAlso I was thinking that with a blog a student could be given/choice a topic they want to learn more about, then post what they found. Other students could then fact check what that student had posted. What if you turned it into a game with a top 5 rankings board on a main blog, maybe points for posts that are fact solid and points for students that correct errors, with a board for both and an overall score. To grade it I would think participation credit with maybe extra credit for top 5? 10? Teaching a couple of my classes this year for my first time it would be nice if it worked, I could use it to present more depth to students not participating in the activity. Plus I think students would like to see their research being included in lessons.
The Journals could also be intergrated into my teaching as well. I would like to try it with all my grade levels but I don't know if I could handle the upkeep, I think it would take. I would start with my 11th grade class.
I do think it would be a good idea to choose just one class to run a kind of pilot program with. See how it goes with that class and work out all of the kinks before you include the other classes. It is best not to take on too much too soon. That is one of my problems. I tend to be an overachiever and generally put too much on plate. Better to take it slow at first so that you don't burn out.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Kleespies,
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the character blog, but I am interested in knowing more about it. I think the idea of joining to different classes in a similar discussion would be very interesting for the students. Also, the fact that they would be working with a different age group would help those students who are in eighth grade see the type of responses that are expected for the future, and on the flip side the older group will be able to help the younger group to delve deeper into the topics. I agree with Mack to take your time to ensure that all of the kinks are worked out before you bring the two classes together.
Dawn