So, how excited am I to get on and blog about blogging? I have to be very honest. It is not quite the same as my enthusiasm for the other social networking I do (ahem, facebook). When I first realized I was going to be studying wikis, blogs, and podcasts this semester I was excited. However, I was hopeful that my blogging would consist of writing on a topic of choice. I learned that would not be the case and do see the reason why we are blogging about Web 2.0 tools. It gives us an opportunity to reflect and comment on others' thoughts about these tools.
After reading more about blogs in Will Richardson's book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms I see the implications and importance they can have for my educational practice--both as an educator learning more about good teaching and for bettering my students. With that, I am taking notice of the ways I would introduce blogging to my students if and when I do bring them into my classroom. Thinking about my motivation to blog and what would give me a real vested interested, when the time comes that I am ready to enter my students into the "blogosphere," I will remember to start small, as Richardson suggests, and ease them into it with an approved topic my students choose. I realize their choice topics could present other issues and have thought of that, too. I will also remember to ease myself into my role as "the teacher who oversees these blogs" by having my elementary students save all their work and get my permission before publishing. That will allow me to keep them safe and their posts appropriate.
What are your thoughts about topics for blogging? Do you have any ideas for it's use in your own classroom or how you would introduce it? I am anxious to learn more.
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The fact that you use facebook on a regular basis makes me feel amazed that you don't feel confident in blogging about other things.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that allowing your students to choose a topic to blog about will be safe? Will you give them a variety of topics to choose from and then allow them to create? I enjoyed reading your blog. It was great encouragment to think about ways to incorporate it into my own classes.
Well, I think facebook has elements of blogging, but it's not really the same. I just find it hard to post quality blogs when I'm given a topic to discuss (unless of course I already have lots to say about it).
ReplyDeleteAs far as students choosing topics, these would need to be approved by me first, and I would require their posts to be reviewed by me before allowing them to post. I hope that would keep these blogs "safe." However, with that said, I can only imagine the amount of time that would require on my part. Ahhh! As you can see, lots to consider before I'd be comfortable implementing this in my classroom. Thanks for reading, Katie!