Please respond to one or more of the following question after reading Chapters 1-3 in the Richardson Text:
What are the most important points that Richardson makes in these chapters?
What ideas do you disagree with? Agree with?
What classroom uses of Blogs seem most effective? Least effective?
After posting a thoughtful response, reply to at least one of your classmates' comments.
To comment, just click on Comments below.
After Richardson (Ch. 1, P. 3) starts talking about "Extraordinary Changes," he mentions the power of organization with out a true organization. This was the cause of the down-fall of the Egyptian Government these past couple years. People took to the streets, and via Facebook and twitter, were able to bring down an entire regime.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting point Richardson made was the fact that the largest growing age group for internet users is the 2-5 year demographic. I find this most interesting because I have a 2-1/2 year old daughter that can use our iPads and Netflix just about as well as we can. It truly is a part of their life and upbringing.
Rob, you bring up an excellent point. Although I do not have any kids of my own, I still babysit and have plenty of cousins who have young children. You are right for young kids it is a part of their upbringing. At Christmas we got my mother (56 years old) and iPad. My soon to be 3 year old cousin showed my mother how to use the iPad.
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ReplyDeleteAs I read the first three chapters of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, I was reminded of how important it is for educators to use the technologies in their personal lives that they are using in their professional one’s. For instance, on page 8 Richardson implores his readers to first use these technologies in their own practice, before using them in the classroom with their students. Then again, on page 9, he asks how we are modeling our learning for our students. Yet again, Richardson reminds us “we have to experience that learning firsthand” (pg. 43) if our students are to learn from these tools.
ReplyDeleteI confess, in my own practice, I often forget this step. I see or learn about a tool, visualize how this tool could be of value to my students, and try to implement it in my classroom. Sometime I experience great success with this approach. More often, I experience limited success, realize that I missed a step explaining the implementation, or in some other way did not present the new tool as clearly as was necessary for my students to get the most from it’s utilization. I need to make the commitment to take a step back and use the tools myself before I take the giant leap of using them with my students. In other words, I do my students a great benefit in taking my time and fully developing my understanding of a technology before I ask them to join my journey. This is a powerful and humbling lesson to learn.
Resource:
Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
I think you have brought up a very good point. You have to know the technology you want your students to know. You have to beable to "fix" things when students go where they are not suppose to or simply do not follow instructions and get "lost" in the technology. Moreover, if you are using technology for projects and students are creating a product you have to beable to show them how to use the software.
DeleteThe Richardson text made me very excited to begin to set up and work on my own classroom blog. As with all types of technology, it is important to think about how to use blogs effectively. Richardson reminds us that, “The true potential of blogs in schools comes when students and teachers use them as publishing tools.” (p.43) I completely agree with the idea. However, it makes me wonder to what degree my second graders will be able to publish using the blog. They are just beginning to learn how to type. I would have to figure out a way to use my blog as effectively as possible with students who may not be able to participate on their own. I can see my own blog as an opportunity for students to become introduced to the world of blogging.
ReplyDeleteCitation: Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
If my sixth graders who do not even know where all the letters are on the keyboard can blog your second graders can blog. I too have just recently started blogging with my students and I have found (thus far) that the speed of typing is not the problem, but thus who do not have internet at home.
DeleteI think for the second graders, it would be more than acceptable to have them blog on a rotating basis, using just one classroom blog. They could even work in small groups on their blog posts. This engages them in collaboration and the review process before publishing.
DeleteFor the students who do not have access to the Internet at home, it is important to give them extra time in class or time either before or after school to complete their posts. Those that are motivated will find the opportunity to complete their blogging assignments, even if they have to use a computer at the public library.
I agree. I would try to keep the blogging assignments classroom-based for my second graders.
DeleteI also agree with the challenges we may face with having the younger students publish using the blog. I think our best bet will be to keep all assignments classroom based.
DeleteOne of the ideas that I agree with Richardson on is the impact on student learning (chapter 2). All though this is my first time using blogs in my classroom several of my co-workers have been using blogs for a few years now with their students and the response they get is amazing. The students love to use the blog, students who do not participate in class will participate on the blog, and students who never turn in homework or other assignments will turn in work on the blog site.
ReplyDeleteI have already seen the interested in two of my classes. Students are asking me daily why did I not respond to their post, or when will the next assignment be posted, when will there be a discussion question. Students want to use the class blog and some are excited about science for the first time.
What I do not agree with Richardson about is (1) the E-Portfolio (chapter 2 page 23). I was required to have an e-portfolio for my college. I was told that it would replace the portfolio that I would create and have to take with me on job interviews. Also, then people could look at my portfolio after I left. Not a single person looked at my e-portfolio, some even told me that they do not like the idea of an e-portfolio because you do get to know the person behind the work, or why things were done the way they were. I hope the Richardson proves me wrong and in another few years e-portfolios are the next thing.
Resource:
Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Your comments about the E-portfolio I can relate to as well. I was also required to create one for my college instead of having a huge portfolio to take on interviews. Just like you said it was left for them to look at basically after I left the interview and I had no way of ever knowing if they really looked at it.
DeleteIn each of the chapter readings the author touches on points that are thought provoking and get to the core of several of the issues that educators face as technology shapes how our students learn. In the first chapter, the current Web is referenced as the Read/Write Web. I like this term because it recognizes the changing tide of the Web from 15 years ago. This new Web introduces our students to a world beyond what they are learning in the classroom. While this presents opportunities for students to gouge new information, it also places education in a peculiar position of trying to enrich students who have different ideas about enrichment or how to be enriched. In support of the author, educators are indeed facing a student population that has greater screen exposures at earlier spans of life. The Read/Write Web potentially widens the gaps between less tech savvy educators and this technology driven student population. I don't agree, however, that teachers who do not quickly integrate technology into their classrooms are failing to bridge the gaps. As long as efforts are made by each educator to take on the task of redesigning their instructional strategies, then our students are not being failed. Though we are technology driven, with or without choice, the curriculum still requires that we encourage students to think and practice on their own accord, without influences.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a simplified activity that can answer questions and open doors for educators who want to learn more about how technology can play a role in their own lives, professionally or personally. I like the concept of Weblogs because it brings to life the notion of Writing to Web. Generally, setup and navigation appear to be simple tasks. Consistet updates encourage ongoing dialogues that can potentially alter instructional paths and empower student learning. As educational systems, educators, and classrooms embrace technology integration, students and educators alike will be introduced to a variety of ideas that can be instrumental in the teaching and learning process.
Kai,
DeleteI agree with you that students need "to think and practice of their own accord" and that teachers are not "failing to bridge the gap" if they do not integrate technology quickly. However, I do think that teachers who refuse to look at how technology may help them teach their students to think critically about their subject are doing their students a disservice.
You also spoke about how the dialogue created through a blog can empower student learning. How do you see this effecting students in math classes? In your opinion, can a high school math class successfully employ the use of a blog to encourage a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in the curriculum?
As I read through the first three chapters of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms I was reminded how important all of these technologies are to use within classrooms. I really agree with Richardson where he talks about the impact on student learning. Within chapter 2 he states "through the unique process of blogging, students are learning to read more critically, think about that reading more analytically, and write more clearly". This statement I think is very true because blogging allows students to learn and express a deeper understanding of the material while holding rich conversations with peers as well as the teacher. I also think that through the use of blogging students who usually don't like to participate will participate since it doesn't involve talking in front of their peers verbally. Students will also become more engaged and excited about learning through the use of blogs.
ReplyDeleteAs an elementary teacher I immediately think of how a blog could be used effectively with the younger students. My students are just learning how to type which means I would have to figure out a way to use my blog as effectively as possible for my students who wouldn't be able to independently participate. While I agree with Richardson on page 43 where he says "the true potential of blogs in schools comes when students and teachers use them as publishing tools"; I do think this is a challenge for teachers to accomplish with young students.
Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
While I agree that blogging has challenges for young students, I am excited by the possibilities it brings to introduce them not only to the write, edit, publish, respond process of writing, but also to the collaborative nature of producing a quality product for publication.
DeleteThese young students are always so excited to see their work published and they have a real innocent sense of pride in a job well done. Build on that excitement, by having them work together using each student's strength to create a quality blog post.
Hi Ashleigh,
Deletei had some of the same thoughts will reading the readings for the week. I think that one way to start blogging in such a young grade is to first involve the parents. I also like the idea of publishing student work.
Hi Ashleigh,
DeleteThis week's readings certainly introduced us t osome ideas about blogging that I had not previously considered. One of the obstacles to overcome is how to apply it as a learnig tool in our classroom settings. Each discipline, grade level, student population will need for it to be fitting to them. How we convey the rationale behind blogging, as it fits our instructional purposes, will determine its effectiveness.