Share your thoughts about your blogging experience in this course. Post questions and ideas about how you and your students could use a blog to share ideas and questions about course projects in your class.
I have used blogging before in a graduate class and in a PLC. It's a great way to communicate. When using it with students though, appropriateness and netiquette need to be discussed. Blogging could be a great way to journal instead of the traditional way. I wanted to try classchatter this past year as a way to journal, but was not able to. I will consider using blogging this year instead to allow students to journal. Also, I recently suggested to a fellow teacher who will need to be off for a period of time and wants to "conduct" class from home as much as they can to use a blog.
My one question is: Can students participate in the blog w/out having a blogger account??? It makes me slightly nervous to create student accounts sometimes. THANKS!
This was the first time that I had used a blog. I agree with Chrissy that blogging would be a great way to journal. I have been in many classes where I have had to record personal thoughts or progress updates on projects. Blogging would be great for that!
I once worked with a teacher that would have her students email highlights of their day to her when she was gone from school. Blogging would be a great way to do this as well.
I hope this helps both of you: If you do not need a long term blog or chat room, go to www.todaysmeet.com It is so easy to sign up! I use this all the time if I want to have a silent discussion with students so they are thinking and not yelling out in class. I also use it for brainstorming, sharing, and feedback on lessons in class while we are in the computer lab. I do have to remind them every time we use it that it is for classwork only. Also, through yolasite I have my own website and blog that I use for the novels we read. It is free and relatively easy to set up. The kids and I also use a wiki on wikispaces to chat about novels, etc. The kids love chatting, blogging, and going on wikis because this is a large part of their everyday lives. Tying communication into lessons helps make class fun and interesting. I loved both of your ideas to journal and/or have the kids journal. I will use this idea in the upcoming school year. As for blogging and doing a wiki for this class, I love it! Communicating with everyone is fast and efficient. Also, I have learned so many ideas and obtained so many new resources. Hooray technology!
This was the first time that I have participated in a blog, and I enjoyed it. It is a nice way to share ideas about a topic, and work together to learn something new. I am incorporating a blog into my atomic structure lesson plan for this class. It’s kind of reaching, but I would like my students to be able to blog with a scientist that is currently working in this field. This may help my students answer the question they always ask me, “How do they think of this stuff?” By the way, does anyone know how I would go about finding someone for this?
I would also like to create a class blog where students would be able to ask questions and give thoughts on current and past assignments. I think that this would help me to assess how to teach the topics to future classes.
I don’t have any more Web 2.0 tools to offer to the discussion because this was all new to me. I do appreciate all the tools that everyone has shared during class, and wish everyone luck in the future.
This is my first time participating in a blog, however, I find it very similar to a wiki. I think the Class Discussion site was better for conversations with where people comment back and that this blog is a good way to just post thoughts and ideas.
The Google Blog was very easy to use and I would use it in my classroom. Blogging would be a great way to post open ended questions and see the different results from each student. Another way I could use this is to post real world applications of math. I am, however, a little afraid of my students’ confidentiality on the site.
This is the first time I have really used a blog for a class. I've messed around with them before but never cared much for them. I still prefer to use wiki's, but this is a good way for many people to contribute information to a central place for all to read. A class could use a blog to centralize their thoughts on a project or class and seek help and answers from their classmates and teacher without having to actually speak outloud in a class setting!
I enjoyed using this blog throughout the course. By being given the opportunity to use this on a weekly basis, it has gotten me in the habit of using it and thus made it more likely that I will think to use it with my students. I read blogs often, but never comment so this is great for me.
For my classroom, I might have a blog for big projects where we can touch base online throughout different stages of the projects. I could also share a blog with a classroom from another country and we could use it to exchange ideas on topics. It could also be used in a book study as well.
I have learned a lot from reading other teacher's comments on this blog. One of the benefits of blogging is that you have a collection of ideas from others who participate as you post and comment. In the classroom, it is an effective way of chronicling life and learning in your classroom. I use edublogs.org in my classroom, as students do not have to have a blogger account. As the teacher you log in, and then the students can post. As the administrator on the account, the teacher approves all comments and posts before they go up for all to see!
This is my first time ever using a blog. I found it easy to use and think that it could be another great tool for my students. I teach special needs, high school math. A blog could be a good place for Q&A about homework and where students could rely on each other and the teacher instead of just the teacher. Before a blog is started, I would have each of my students sign off on privacy, safety, and using the blog politely.
This is my first time using a blog. I have read other peoples blogs before and I know several people that have blogs but I don't know that I had had a purpose for blogging before this class. Through grad classes and my recent book studies for work I have done several wiki's but never a blog. I like the wiki if you want people to respond and have more of a discussion. The blog is a good way to let students express themselves. I would like to start small with maybe doing some journaling or thoughts about a lesson or project that we did in class to see how the students do with it. I too would be concerned about creating student accounts and would like to look at the suggested non-registered sites for student use.
I think blogging has its uses in the classes, though for discussions I would stick to a forum. I can see students getting into blogging as a form of writing far more than turning in formal essays all the time. They actually do have educational blogging that you can do with your student that is done in a secure settings but I can't find the site that was mentioned to me. It was a pay site too but reasonable. I personally prefer wikis though for the classroom since everybody can edit on there and create content. But blogs certainly have their uses. How about in English class reading Macbeth and having the students blog about each scenes from a perspective of each character?
At ISTE this past week, I was introduced to an amazing (FREE) site - kidblog.org. I love the idea of having my kids blog, but I feel better if it is a gated site. Kidsblog allows you to restrict access, approve posts and comments, and monitor all activity before it is published. Or not, if you feel that it is unecessary. And, you can embed code in it, too. So students can create Vokis or Fotobabbles to express themselves instead of just writing! I like Blogger for parent-teacher interaction, or for professional use, but I think I will highly suggest Kidblog for teachers who want to get students involved in blogging.
This is the first time that I have used blogging in a class. This would be a wonderful tool in the classroom for journals. One thing that I am concerned about is computer accessibility. If anyone has any ideas about this issue please let me know.
I've not used blogging personally or in class. I don't care for it as a communication portal. However, I do see using it as a way for students to "journal" about their thoughts, experiences, and ideas during a course.
This is the first time that I have used blogging, period. I knew what a blog was but never needed to use it. I found it to be a great way to share thoughts and experiences. I started this course with a recently crashed computer and I'm finishing it with a recently restored network in my home. Technology is a great tool, when it works.
Thanks, Nan for the site called kid blogging. I will check it out. I like communicating with blogs for discussion or to generate ideas from a population.
I really enjoyed the blogging. I had never blogged before! It helps me understand what my student are doing and how useful something like this could be opposed to a class discussion. We could have our discussion online which may encourage students to participate more because they do not have to speak out in class.
I also have never used a blog for any purpose. After I posted my lesson plan in the discussion session, I thought it would be great to create a blog for kids to summarize their experience with the project. I thought it would be a great place for them to reflect on what they learned so I think I will have them journal about their experience.
I have learned so much in this class. I have bookmarked a ton of sites that were mentioned here and I can't wait to explore them more this summer once class is over. I can't wait to start to incorporate some of these things in my building!
I have used blogging before in a graduate class and in a PLC. It's a great way to communicate. When using it with students though, appropriateness and netiquette need to be discussed. Blogging could be a great way to journal instead of the traditional way. I wanted to try classchatter this past year as a way to journal, but was not able to. I will consider using blogging this year instead to allow students to journal. Also, I recently suggested to a fellow teacher who will need to be off for a period of time and wants to "conduct" class from home as much as they can to use a blog.
ReplyDeleteMy one question is: Can students participate in the blog w/out having a blogger account??? It makes me slightly nervous to create student accounts sometimes. THANKS!
This was the first time that I had used a blog. I agree with Chrissy that blogging would be a great way to journal. I have been in many classes where I have had to record personal thoughts or progress updates on projects. Blogging would be great for that!
ReplyDeleteI once worked with a teacher that would have her students email highlights of their day to her when she was gone from school. Blogging would be a great way to do this as well.
I hope this helps both of you: If you do not need a long term blog or chat room, go to www.todaysmeet.com
ReplyDeleteIt is so easy to sign up! I use this all the time if I want to have a silent discussion with students so they are thinking and not yelling out in class. I also use it for brainstorming, sharing, and feedback on lessons in class while we are in the computer lab. I do have to remind them every time we use it that it is for classwork only.
Also, through yolasite I have my own website and blog that I use for the novels we read. It is free and relatively easy to set up.
The kids and I also use a wiki on wikispaces to chat about novels, etc.
The kids love chatting, blogging, and going on wikis because this is a large part of their everyday lives. Tying communication into lessons helps make class fun and interesting. I loved both of your ideas to journal and/or have the kids journal. I will use this idea in the upcoming school year.
As for blogging and doing a wiki for this class, I love it! Communicating with everyone is fast and efficient. Also, I have learned so many ideas and obtained so many new resources. Hooray technology!
This was the first time that I have participated in a blog, and I enjoyed it. It is a nice way to share ideas about a topic, and work together to learn something new. I am incorporating a blog into my atomic structure lesson plan for this class. It’s kind of reaching, but I would like my students to be able to blog with a scientist that is currently working in this field. This may help my students answer the question they always ask me, “How do they think of this stuff?” By the way, does anyone know how I would go about finding someone for this?
ReplyDeleteI would also like to create a class blog where students would be able to ask questions and give thoughts on current and past assignments. I think that this would help me to assess how to teach the topics to future classes.
I don’t have any more Web 2.0 tools to offer to the discussion because this was all new to me. I do appreciate all the tools that everyone has shared during class, and wish everyone luck in the future.
This is my first time participating in a blog, however, I find it very similar to a wiki. I think the Class Discussion site was better for conversations with where people comment back and that this blog is a good way to just post thoughts and ideas.
ReplyDeleteThe Google Blog was very easy to use and I would use it in my classroom. Blogging would be a great way to post open ended questions and see the different results from each student. Another way I could use this is to post real world applications of math. I am, however, a little afraid of my students’ confidentiality on the site.
This is the first time I have really used a blog for a class. I've messed around with them before but never cared much for them. I still prefer to use wiki's, but this is a good way for many people to contribute information to a central place for all to read.
ReplyDeleteA class could use a blog to centralize their thoughts on a project or class and seek help and answers from their classmates and teacher without having to actually speak outloud in a class setting!
I enjoyed using this blog throughout the course. By being given the opportunity to use this on a weekly basis, it has gotten me in the habit of using it and thus made it more likely that I will think to use it with my students. I read blogs often, but never comment so this is great for me.
ReplyDeleteFor my classroom, I might have a blog for big projects where we can touch base online throughout different stages of the projects. I could also share a blog with a classroom from another country and we could use it to exchange ideas on topics. It could also be used in a book study as well.
I have learned a lot from reading other teacher's comments on this blog. One of the benefits of blogging is that you have a collection of ideas from others who participate as you post and comment. In the classroom, it is an effective way of chronicling life and learning in your classroom. I use edublogs.org in my classroom, as students do not have to have a blogger account. As the teacher you log in, and then the students can post. As the administrator on the account, the teacher approves all comments and posts before they go up for all to see!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time ever using a blog. I found it easy to use and think that it could be another great tool for my students. I teach special needs, high school math. A blog could be a good place for Q&A about homework and where students could rely on each other and the teacher instead of just the teacher. Before a blog is started, I would have each of my students sign off on privacy, safety, and using the blog politely.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time using a blog. I have read other peoples blogs before and I know several people that have blogs but I don't know that I had had a purpose for blogging before this class. Through grad classes and my recent book studies for work I have done several wiki's but never a blog. I like the wiki if you want people to respond and have more of a discussion. The blog is a good way to let students express themselves. I would like to start small with maybe doing some journaling or thoughts about a lesson or project that we did in class to see how the students do with it. I too would be concerned about creating student accounts and would like to look at the suggested non-registered sites for student use.
ReplyDeleteI think blogging has its uses in the classes, though for discussions I would stick to a forum. I can see students getting into blogging as a form of writing far more than turning in formal essays all the time. They actually do have educational blogging that you can do with your student that is done in a secure settings but I can't find the site that was mentioned to me. It was a pay site too but reasonable. I personally prefer wikis though for the classroom since everybody can edit on there and create content. But blogs certainly have their uses. How about in English class reading Macbeth and having the students blog about each scenes from a perspective of each character?
ReplyDeleteAt ISTE this past week, I was introduced to an amazing (FREE) site - kidblog.org. I love the idea of having my kids blog, but I feel better if it is a gated site. Kidsblog allows you to restrict access, approve posts and comments, and monitor all activity before it is published. Or not, if you feel that it is unecessary. And, you can embed code in it, too. So students can create Vokis or Fotobabbles to express themselves instead of just writing! I like Blogger for parent-teacher interaction, or for professional use, but I think I will highly suggest Kidblog for teachers who want to get students involved in blogging.
ReplyDelete-Nan Argabrite
This is the first time that I have used blogging in a class. This would be a wonderful tool in the classroom for journals. One thing that I am concerned about is computer accessibility. If anyone has any ideas about this issue please let me know.
ReplyDeleteI've not used blogging personally or in class. I don't care for it as a communication portal. However, I do see using it as a way for students to "journal" about their thoughts, experiences, and ideas during a course.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time that I have used blogging, period. I knew what a blog was but never needed to use it. I found it to be a great way to share thoughts and experiences. I started this course with a recently crashed computer and I'm finishing it with a recently restored network in my home. Technology is a great tool, when it works.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nan for the site called kid blogging. I will check it out. I like communicating with blogs for discussion or to generate ideas from a population.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the blogging. I had never blogged before! It helps me understand what my student are doing and how useful something like this could be opposed to a class discussion. We could have our discussion online which may encourage students to participate more because they do not have to speak out in class.
ReplyDeleteI also have never used a blog for any purpose. After I posted my lesson plan in the discussion session, I thought it would be great to create a blog for kids to summarize their experience with the project. I thought it would be a great place for them to reflect on what they learned so I think I will have them journal about their experience.
ReplyDeleteI have learned so much in this class. I have bookmarked a ton of sites that were mentioned here and I can't wait to explore them more this summer once class is over. I can't wait to start to incorporate some of these things in my building!