This weeks application really made me think about how I could incorporate a blog into my classroom. After spending a couple of days thinking about it, I am really starting to think having a blog for my classroom would be highly successful. Being a High School Math teacher many times students have constant questions when completing their homework. And many times their parents aren't able to help them. This what I see as the first good use of having a blog. A blog would allow me to post keep points of a lesson and helpful tips students could use. Students would be able to ask questions and leave comments if they need further assistance. I feel a blog would be a great tool for this, since it allows safe and appropriate communication between teacher and students after school hours. Another great thing students would be able to do is comment on what I have posted and help their fellow classmates out as well by commenting on their questions. It is a great tool in that students would be helping other students, not just me helping them. Lastly a great use of the blog is posting assignment information. Many times students seem to fail to write down their assignments or forget them. The blog would allow me to post what the assignment was for the day.
The intent of my blog would be aid students in their development of math and for students to use it as a discussion point for their class. I would not put any types of grades on it as individuals since I do not want to single out students. However I think highlighting some accomplishments of students would be a great use of the blog as well. Whether they are academic, athletic, or artistic. Overall, I really want to incorporate a blog into my classroom next year.
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I love your enthusiasm towards the future of blogging in your classroom. I, too, have not yet used blogs in my Technology classes, but I feel that they would be a great resource for the students to have. One thing I should mention(This is some advice another classmate gave me)... You mentioned that blogs "allows safe and appropriate communication between teacher and students". Unfortunately, this isn't entirely true. Students are able to write/comment whatever they please and due to the nature of the blog, inappropriate comments may be a problem. However, I have found out that there are ways to prevent this from happening by having all blog comments coming to the admin(you) first, allowing you to "approve or disapprove" any comments that may not be beneficial to the group. Just something to keep in mind. Good luck with your future in classroom blogging!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danny, blogs aren't always safe and allow for appropriate communication. Like he said you can have comments go to the Admin before being posted publicly. For my class blog, students are able to comment on things, but I am also able to delete them. I have it setup to notify of when a comment is made on the blog so I can go and check it out. Students also have to adhere to a class policy on the blog. Our blog is set to be used by my students, administrators and students parents only. This allows on cutting down of inappropriate comments.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have some great ideas on what to do with a blog in your classroom. As a parent and a student who struggled with math, the blog you talk about sounds like something I would be looking at constantly. I know when my daughter gets old enough and starts asking me for help on math, we're in trouble.
Like Laura, I think I would have benefited very much from a math blog. I constantly had questions in Algebra II. The only challenge I see in using a blog in this fashion is that it might become a little overwhelming for you, the teacher. Setting parameters early on as to when you will answer questions and when is an unlikely time you will be able to get back to them might help to curb some possible problems. Great idea though. I think I'll steal it if you don't mind. I'm afraid, however, that math teachers get a few more questions than social studies teachers!
ReplyDeleteLaura and Danny, yes I see what you are saying about blogs being unsafe and that is why I would have to approve all comments before they were posted. I should have added that in there before. But thanks for reminding me. Brandon, the timing thing with answering questions was defiantly an idea I was asking myself when writing my post. I was trying to think about how I would set it up to do that. I guess all I really could do was try and tell the students I would answer their questions by 9 and try and check it later but couldn't guarantee anything. Yes with math I think it would take a lot of experimenting and tweaking. Thanks for the tips.
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