tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post2843354196672843875..comments2024-01-26T03:56:30.203-08:00Comments on Dr. Mandi Sonnenberg: HOT Blogging: Light Some Fires!Dr. Mandi Sonnenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18217626594127604192noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-55855452140487795742014-12-02T05:09:31.619-08:002014-12-02T05:09:31.619-08:00I like your thought that this should be done durin...I like your thought that this should be done during class time. I would say that it depends on the age of student, but this is something I would use within my classroom. That way I would be there to help them through any problems that arise during the process. However, I do believe that people perform to the level we set for them. If we micromanage our students, they will never learn and display internet safety. It is our job to teach them how to be responsible and the consequences if they are not. I agree that expectations would have to be clear and established for blogging to work seamlessly.Miss Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340563067482960805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-20147604297678311992014-12-02T05:05:42.684-08:002014-12-02T05:05:42.684-08:00I would totally agree that many teachers don't...I would totally agree that many teachers don't use blogging because they are unfamiliar with it. I also think that since teachers don't know much about it, they don't see the benefits of it. Teachers absolutely need to start communicating in ways students' do, just as we ask students to communicate the way we want them to. To keep our students vested and involved, we must give and take. This will help them to get the most out of their education.Miss Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340563067482960805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-80188050742850298892014-12-02T05:02:00.426-08:002014-12-02T05:02:00.426-08:00I like your point on learning about your classmate...I like your point on learning about your classmates. So often we have no idea who the people are that sit next to us every week for a semester(s). Blogging is a wonderful way to start getting to know others and the unique perspectives really take learning to another level. The higher order thinking is crucial and makes for a deeper understanding. Miss Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340563067482960805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-60713241754142042322014-12-02T04:59:39.033-08:002014-12-02T04:59:39.033-08:00Most districts already have this in place, but it ...Most districts already have this in place, but it wouldn't hurt to make sure before you start blogging. I also think that communicating with parents before you start is a great idea. They are always more open to ideas when we communicate with them ahead of time and let them know what is going on and the benefits of it. Great thoughts!Miss Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340563067482960805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-15274757640182443492014-12-02T04:57:03.669-08:002014-12-02T04:57:03.669-08:00I totally agree that we should be helping students...I totally agree that we should be helping students learn to use technological tools, especially when they don't have access to these at home. It becomes almost more crucial for them to have the time to explore and work with technology at school. That was a great point!Miss Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340563067482960805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-76117271220914885532014-12-02T04:54:36.281-08:002014-12-02T04:54:36.281-08:00I like how you brought up the idea of privacy. Tha...I like how you brought up the idea of privacy. That is something that has tripped me up as well. However, districts have privacy and technology policies. At my school, all students must have a release form signed saying that it's okay for them to be in pictures, use the internet, etc. That is definitely something that would have to be checked at your school though.Miss Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340563067482960805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-14563902265295143262014-11-17T15:40:54.971-08:002014-11-17T15:40:54.971-08:00One of the concerns that I would have would be tha... One of the concerns that I would have would be that students from low income districts might not have access either in the classroom or at home. However, I would not let that stop me. Personally I do not think that I would face obstacles that I couldn't address. I think for the lower grades this would be a good chance to teach about computer use, and include NetSmartz lessons. <br /><br />I would like to teach grades 1-3 and I can only imagine how adorable first graders would look blogging. Aside from the cute factor, I believe that blogs give students choice for response, and it gives teachers yet another method to assess student learning. Blogging also builds community in the classroom. Although blogs are online, they are great for flipping the classroom, which means that the content is still discussed in class. By using blogs each student still has a voice even if they are shy.Just as we are doing on this blog students can agree and disagree with each other, just like in the classroom.I believe that the benefits prove that blogging is a great tool to incorporate into the classroom at any level. Ruth Aguilerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16582770311528668735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-2887216450605432512014-11-17T09:39:01.051-08:002014-11-17T09:39:01.051-08:00Michelle,
You've brought up a very important t...Michelle,<br />You've brought up a very important thing to remember when blogging. Having a back-up plan is crucial when dealing with something that uses technology. As you said, servers might be down or the computers might not be working, and without a back-up plan, a teacher would be in a real jam. Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-55874899586056989012014-11-17T09:35:47.898-08:002014-11-17T09:35:47.898-08:00Kelsey,
I love the connection you made between soc...Kelsey,<br />I love the connection you made between social media and blogging in the classroom. I totally agree that it could be a a fun way to get students engaged with each other in a format similar to the ones they are already using outside of class. It's a great way to align student interest with the curriculum. Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-32644811302457228102014-11-17T09:32:39.129-08:002014-11-17T09:32:39.129-08:00Ally,
I had the same problem myself the first tim...Ally, <br />I had the same problem myself the first time I tried to comment! This just reminded me of how important it is for teachers to try out the technology they are using with their students and model the steps in effectively using whatever program/site/equipment they have before releasing the students to work with these things on their own. I also love that you brought up the use of blogging with different age groups. I think that's a great point to consider. Blogging can be used with a variety of different grade levels, but it may need to be adapted depending on the skill level of the group you're working with. Thanks for commenting! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-37752288423267689372014-11-17T09:26:56.443-08:002014-11-17T09:26:56.443-08:00Philip,
I think your point about wondering what mi...Philip,<br />I think your point about wondering what might happen to the blog after the first few weeks is very valid. In situations like this, I think it's important for the teacher to find new ways for students to use their blogs (different types of posts, different prompts, different formats, etc.) so that the excitement doesn't wear off. The content of blogging is another very real concern for teachers. Someone above mentioned the possibility of changing settings so that a teacher must approve a post before it can be published. If this is a possibility, I think that could definitely help with the issue of students writing things that are too personal. You've laid out some great points about the potential problems a teacher might face in blogging. Thanks for commenting! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-8795106928746624112014-11-17T09:21:07.064-08:002014-11-17T09:21:07.064-08:00Lindsey,
Unfortunately, you bring up one of the h...Lindsey, <br />Unfortunately, you bring up one of the hardest obstacles in blogging to conquer. When students don't have access at home, it certainly presents a bigger challenge in creating and using blogs. When access is limited at school on top of that, blogging can seem impossible. In cases like this, I wonder if perhaps something like the paper blogging that Erin mentioned above might be helpful to incorporate the benefits of blogging into the classroom. It could always be something that is part of a writing workshop or a small group time too where maybe not all of the students need access to a computer at once. Thanks for bringing up this point! It's a very real obstacle that each of us may encounter!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-21182443183502219272014-11-17T09:15:28.501-08:002014-11-17T09:15:28.501-08:00Kindra, Teacher education in blogging is crucial t...Kindra, Teacher education in blogging is crucial to its successful and safe implementation. It would great if schools decided to incorporate training on acceptable use and things to look out for while creating and using a blog. Perhaps with attention growing on the effectiveness of blogging in the classroom, this might become a higher priority on schools' lists when it comes to professional development. Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-81929520871957054622014-11-17T09:11:11.926-08:002014-11-17T09:11:11.926-08:00Erin, All of those concerns are very real when try...Erin, All of those concerns are very real when trying to implement a blog in the classroom. I love that you pointed out how important it is for teachers to take steps in teaching students proper netiquette, making sure the appropriate privacy settings are being used, and communicating with both administration and parents. It's definitely a good idea before using a blog to be sure the school actually allows it, and I'm sure parents would love to hear about how you plan to protect their student's privacy. Something I had thought about while researching was maybe using pseudonyms for each student's blog. It could be fun for the students to come up with their own pseudonyms, and it could also be a good way to take some of the privacy concerns out of the situation. Paper blogging sounds like a fantastic first step too! Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-51638295174942452272014-11-17T09:03:22.952-08:002014-11-17T09:03:22.952-08:00Shelby, I love that you brought up the point about...Shelby, I love that you brought up the point about blogs being a great way for teachers to practice their problem solving skills and flexibility. Many teachers are afraid to try it out, but that is the very reason that they should. Not only does it improve our own skills, but it shows the students that risk taking and not always knowing exactly how to do something are both okay. Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-1149401516559538422014-11-17T09:01:07.080-08:002014-11-17T09:01:07.080-08:00Michelle,
Anticipating problems is a great way to ...Michelle,<br />Anticipating problems is a great way to offset some of the potential problems with blogging. Depending on the blog hosting site used, there are definitely different privacy settings and comment/post approval settings that the teacher can use. I love all of your suggestions for ways to use blogs as well. It's not only a great tool for the teacher to track students' writing skills and a fun way for students to write, but it's also an easy way to share with parents how their students are progressing. Thanks for commenting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305293021958028501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-15017090745969742722014-11-16T20:27:41.804-08:002014-11-16T20:27:41.804-08:00I agree with what Shelby said, Blogging can be dif...I agree with what Shelby said, Blogging can be difficult when you first try it. Once you get the hang of it that's when it becomes effective. Some teachers don’t like taking the time to research how to use blogging in their lessons and part of that is because they aren’t fluent in technology. <br />I have seen blogging used as a morning exercise where the student response to a teacher’s post. You can do this with an actual blogging site or as an in class writing activity. This gives student’s an opportunity to voice/express their opinion about a topic or math problem. I remember using blogging in my high school English literature class. The teacher would respond to our post and provide feedback. Instead of getting a grade we got participation points for our post. I remember enjoying this because I was able to express myself privately. <br /><br />Ashley pointed out that blogging can be associated with reading and writing which is proof that it can make an impact on how your students can learn in your classroom. I know that I will be using blogging in my classroom and I want my students to be able to use their phones or their tablets when blogging. The goal is for them to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions as well as develop ways to communicate with me and their peers. <br /><br /><br />Britney Williams-Bey Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15194764240590056408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-15518384955150225682014-11-16T19:48:06.752-08:002014-11-16T19:48:06.752-08:00I have no idea how to create a blog, which is my f...I have no idea how to create a blog, which is my first concern about implementing blogging into my classroom. However, it was encouraging to hear that Carolyn was able to create a blog in just ten minutes. The other potential issue about blogging is that all of my students would need to have access to technology for assignments. One way to address this would be to have blogging during class time. Not only would this ensure that students have access to the tools they need, but you could troubleshoot with them if any issues come up and monitor the content of their posts and comments before they are published.<br /><br />How do we keep students from getting bored with blogging or seeing it as a chore? Phillip mentioned this in his comment, and I would like to offer a possible solution. I think the content of the blog would be a big motivational factor in student participation. They could blog about topics that they pick (with your approval). Another idea is that they could use the blog to get to know each other. Students could take turns writing about themselves and their favorite things. Many teachers at the primary level have an "All About Me" bulletin board, and it would be fun to use the blog for this purpose. Making the class blog about the students would motivate them to participate and build a positive class community.<br /><br />There are benefits to blogging that I had not thought about that would encourage me to incorporate it into my classroom. Blogging improves writing by developing good habits, such as making students aware of their audience and encouraging regular writing practice. Thank you for sharing!<br /><br />-Trang Bui<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-32408583364410296092014-11-16T17:40:29.725-08:002014-11-16T17:40:29.725-08:00As more schools and school districts are implement...As more schools and school districts are implementing 1:1 technology initiatives and using technology to supplement learning, it is critical that educators find creative and innovative ways to promote learning. While I have embraced using technology, there are certain elements that I am not so confident using. Blogs are one of them. However, after reading the benefits and ease of using blogs that were expressed by Ashley and Caroline, I find myself more confident and willing to use blogs in the classroom. One difficulty that concerned me was the startup process and how that would take place with primary students and students with special needs. The more I thought about this, the more I realized that effective and proper modeling can alleviate any problems associated with the initial lessons implementing blogs. Caroline also commented that creating and using blogs are easier than most people think. Blogging supports learning in various ways. Ashley highlighted this fact as she discussed how blogs improve many of the skills associated with reading and writing. Caroline and Ashley gave compelling evidence to the benefits of blogs, and I would like to try and incorporate them into my future classroom. Educators should embrace technology as it is relevant for our students and has great importance in their lives. Technology has many ways to increase learning while making it fun, and a blog is one of those ways.<br /><br />-AndyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14043715004978057436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-87725700624567006082014-11-16T16:46:18.115-08:002014-11-16T16:46:18.115-08:00One of the issues could be privacy. When student&#...One of the issues could be privacy. When student's put their writing out for the public to see that have to be aware that what they write can be seen by everyone and anything posted on the internet is there forever. It can be challenging to implement classroom blogging if not all students have computers or access to the internet at home. A solution would be for students to blog during class time.<br /><br />I would like to implement blogging into my classroom. It would give students an opportunity to write freely and not feel judge by the teacher; however, there could be competition within the students on who's blog is most popular. I think as long as expectations are established blogging would be great in the classroom. <br /><br />-Monisha SlaterAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13175872814591003302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-30927374279046328062014-11-15T07:49:34.313-08:002014-11-15T07:49:34.313-08:00I totally agree with the arguments presented by Ca...I totally agree with the arguments presented by Carolyn and Ashley in favor of blogging. Today’s teachers need to be familiarized with new technologies to be able to interact effectively with their students. Blogging can be used as a way to extent a classroom discussion and to keep students interested in the subject. I think that the main reason why many teachers are unwilling to use this technology is because they are unfamiliar with it. Learning a new technology for the benefit of their students is something that every teacher needs to do. Today’s students interact among themselves by using technology, and teachers need to learn these technologies to have a better communication and understanding with their students. Blogging is definitely one way of achieving this.<br /><br />- Pio GascaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-48508159494675977592014-11-14T21:00:31.255-08:002014-11-14T21:00:31.255-08:00I have taken classes where teachers have had us bl...I have taken classes where teachers have had us blog and as a student I really enjoyed them. I believe they are an excellent way to express your ideas and learn about your classmates unique perspectives. I definitely think that they are most effective when the teacher poses the topic or question in a broad and open ended manner so that there are not 25 of the same responses. As others have stated there is always a privacy concern when publishing anything online and it is important that precautions are taken before having students in your class post. However I believe, that if implemented in the correct manner, blogs can be very beneficial for today's students. <br />Ali MackenzieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16729156398684082820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-31843641299974000712014-11-14T20:42:00.458-08:002014-11-14T20:42:00.458-08:00Everyone has add great comments/ideas to this blog...Everyone has add great comments/ideas to this blog; there is not much more I can add besides parents not wanting their child to be posting on the internet for multiply reasons. If I were to implement blogging into my classroom, I would first make sure my administrators are aware. Then I would communicate with the parents about the benefits and how students will be participating in this activity. I might even have parents sign a permission slip allow their child to partake in this activity depending on the age group. I would also have an alternative submission to the assignment for students who could not blog for what ever reason. <br /><br />Over all, I have to say I'm all in for blogging and empowering student to voice out their thoughts. <br /><br />Yanira Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-79364585984933265052014-11-14T08:20:37.116-08:002014-11-14T08:20:37.116-08:00As others have said, when you implement anything n...As others have said, when you implement anything new challenges will arise. Depending on where you are teaching, like Lindsey is facing, students may not have smart phones or access to Internet at home. I don't think this is a reason to not try it though. As teachers we need to figure out ways to help students with these issues and make sure they have the opportunity to learn about certain technology they may not otherwise have access to. <br /><br />Another challenge I thought of was the public aspect of blogs. I don't know a whole lot about blogging, but it seems that anyone can find a blog and see what is being posted. This also gives access to students names. I would hope there are privacy settings that could help with that. Again, that wouldn't be a reason not to try it, because I think that is a good opportunity to talk about Internet safety and how to use blogs effectively. <br /><br />Thanks for the great info! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02251450205581715224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23942020879690797.post-61390918711803644502014-11-14T05:46:38.776-08:002014-11-14T05:46:38.776-08:00I think there could be some difficulty in the will...I think there could be some difficulty in the willingness of some students to express their thoughts if they’re aware that those thoughts will be read by all of their classmates. But more importantly, if a classroom blog has been created on a public site, then privacy becomes a greater issue. Even if protective measures have been taken, the blog may remain in some cache system long after students have left the class. It would also be crucial for teachers to encourage students to post constructive comments and/or respectful feedback. Appropriate classroom behavior should extend to a blog interaction too. That said, I would most likely implement an exercise in classroom blogging with either younger or upper elementary students. Although some kids may be apprehensive about blogging, it may motivate others to participate in that type of classroom discussion when they wouldn’t otherwise. And it would offer an alternative opportunity to practice composition and editing skills.<br />Tina CarterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com