Question #1: What did I learn?
Blogging opens a great deal of learning in different forms. For me, it's a way to learn new information, stay in (distant touch) with friends and colleagues, as well as discover new avenues and doorways to the world. I have friends who express themselves during good times and troubling times while receiving some sound advise or just simple encouraging words. I am learning new ways to see information, listen to other's opinions, process and share. Who knows...maybe even get involved too...
Question #2: How will I you use what I've learned?
I use the TeacherWeb through our district on a daily basis during our school year. I'd to integrate these experiences into my classroom routine and see my students use them as well. I find our webpage is simple and time saving.
Question #3: How did you feel about this tool?
I love technology and sharing. It was terrific setting the Blog up as I refreshed my mind searching and working to add pictures, etc. I want it to be useful and something that will be beneficial and not require double time or double work.
Question #4: What do you not want to forget about this tool?
I don't want to forget how simple it can be. I also want to remember when there are answers when you need them....just search. (I didn't like the text over the sunflower picture... entering the html to adjust to the left...I needed help. Using help, I was able to find the text to add to accomplish the task! But...where did I put the print out...OH MY!)
Question #5: How can this be used in the classroom or your educational role?
Within our classroom, students can use their writing skills through a class publication or even a newsletter. Perhaps they can even share their literacy refections where the children and their parents can even comment sharing their reflections.
Question #6: Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
Yes, I do believe this is a worthy project and opportunity to share what's going on with a child's learning. I have seen the more one communicates with parents, the smoother things come together. I can't wait to discover more ways to use them in my educational role. But I don't want to see myself working even more hours that already. I'd like to see it simplify some areas to leave open the room of teaching!
Question #7: What questions do you still have about this tool?
What else can it do? Can I add a calendar to this blogspot page? I'd like to try the edublog and link the two together.
During my time with KellerISD, it was an honor to be facilitator through Intel Teach To The Future with support of Microsoft. RRISD was just beginning this program with I moved here. Once again, I was invited to facilitate with colleagues. What an opportunity to learn technology! Now I find a golden opportunity, and I jumped at the chance to learn more!!
For me, I feel like we should just "say it." I feel like, Blogs in Plan English, did just that! The video stated things and demonstrated it. This video was very good and to the point. Dan Meyer has a fabulous and energetic BLOG! He uses it with many lessons! This was of interest to me! Thanks!
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4 comments:
Margie-
First, let me say, what adorable grandchildren--what fun!
Second, I agree with you about the excitement of the possibilities this tool has for teachers. Communication and sharing is so important for strengthening our learning community and connection with parents. I noticed that you have a well kept classroom website. It makes me wonder how blogs and websites fit? Is one better for certain things versus others? I just read over Kara's blog and she had a link to a principal's blog who kept her "weekly updates" on the blog--it seemed a great way to have that info in one place, and to just have to scroll through the history (versus finding an old e-mail).
I taught fourth grade also before becoming an instructional coach-love 4th graders :) I know a few teachers who have used blogs with the students for book clubs/literature circles. I never had a chance to try that with my students, but that is something that I think would be a fun endeavor.
I agree that this needs to be a tool to simplify things instead of adding more to our plates. We already have so much to do! It is easy to post, so hopefully that will be a good reason to post consistently. I read on a blog recently that good blogs post consistently. That's what keeps people interested!
Good question about the calendar function. It would be great if there was one, but I'm not sure about that.
Hey Marie,
I also agree that this should be a tool that helps simplify things and not be more work (something I am worried about). I'm trying to figure out a way to make a blog for my students that is an open forum for them to talk and ask questions to me and their fellow classmates about the things we are learning about in class that can be well organized and not too overwhelming. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
~Jessica
Good comments gang!
I’d like to help with a few of the ideas.
First, you are right! Technology should make it easier not harder to do your job. My personal opinion is that if you communicate with your parent’s more frequently they are happier. That always helps! ;-) I have one teacher that created a teacher blog (3 actually, all linked in the blog roll). He posts weekly about the assignments on the assignments blog, while the one blog page is just fun things and information for parents and students to remember about what is going on. His teacher web moved from only having about 50 hits a week to his blog having almost 400 hits a week. His students left comments as well as parents. It was like a wild fire. Students even began helping other students online through the comments. Anyway, all that to say: It only takes at the most 10 minutes to make a good post. Just like typing a simple note to go home.
Secondly, being that you chose Blogger as your tool of choice, you have a Google login. With that comes a Google Calendar. You have the options to make that calendar public so others can view it. I must say that the Google Calendar is one of the best out there. You can simply link to it in your link section or blog roll if you so choose. It’s just one of the many options. I use my Google Calendar making part of it public and part of it private and it seems to work out great.
I hope the comments help! There are a million ways of doing the same thing with technology. Keep up the good work.
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