In my school we have very little technology and our students have never even been to a computer lab. I am lucky to have the 4 computers that I have in my classroom of fourth graders but students do not have the experience of actually using the computer and learning in a computer lab setting. If I were able to use a computer lab and teach children the tools of this technology and allow them to create a blog I think that I would use it for a variety of purposes. The blog would be set up for students to communicate about daily class lessons and what they enjoy and what they are struggling with. Students could communicate with one another and assist each other in being successful by answering questions that each other may have. The blog would be a good tool because it would allow students who are introverted and struggle with asking questions aloud to put their thoughts and questions down in a different way. This would benefit me as a teacher because it would allow me to read and know where that student is struggling so that I can later give them the one on one or small group assistance they may need to understand the concept in which they do not understand. I think some students would be more willing to put their questions online in a blog instead of asking it aloud in front of their peers.
An instructional blog accessible for students would be a wonderful way to allow children the opporunity to express themselves in ways that they may find difficult to do verbally. I think that another way I could use the blog would be set up privately if possible to allow me to communicate with my students about their struggles in a way that would be easy for them where they feel more comfortable communicating as opposed to talking in person about something.
I think using a blog would enhance student learning because it provides an opportunity for kids to have exposure in using technology and learning skills they will need to be successful adults. My only concern is that my students do not have a computer lab and do not have access to this so I cannot feasibly create a blog space for my children to contribute to such a thing as this concept. It would however be a good way to share questions, student work, success, and struggles with one another.
Leonor, I have the same struggles as you. My students do not have the access to computers like most schools in my district. My students do not have computers at home either. Last year I had three kids in my class that had computers in their home. A problem you will have is finding the time to use your computers effectively. We do have a computer lab, but most of the time we cannot get in there because of testing. I believe with four computers in your room, you can have an active blog in your classroom. You can use the computers at center times. You could have a question posted on it that your students must respond to. It could be a question from something you are reading in the classroom in Reading or Social Studies. Also, if you have a silent reading period, they could get on the computer then. Your students could also use the computers as a "Do Now" when they come in first thing in the morning. Since we do not have access to our computer lab, we squeeze in as much time as we can on our classroom computers, whether it be first thing in the morning, during our center times or during silent reading time. Finding any free or appropriate time during your day will help you have a successful blog with your students. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJackie gave wonderful tips on effective time use which I think can be applied to any classroom no matter how limited or not computer resources are. I agree that you can have an active blog with the resources in your class and meet the communication and instruction purposes you mentioned in your post. Using blogs as a place to share success and struggle is definitely a good idea not only in academic terms but as a way to contribute to our student’s emotional development. They will have to learn how to communicate success without making others feel bad or to express their failures and difficulties without feeling threatened. However I think that process must be conducted carefully because building such confident environment requires time and direct instruction. Do your students have access to computers at home or at any community center or public library after school? If there is an affirmative answer that might be a great compliment for classwork and school time work. Part of the “magic” of blogs is that learning is not limited to school boundaries.
ReplyDeleteJackie and Maria,
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking time to read and comment on my post. I too agree with you all that making this blog possible in the classroom is a possibility it will just take time and planning to figure out how to do it and incorporate it. Jackie I am glad that you understand my point of my students and how they just do not have access at home and they don't at our school either. Having only 4 computers in my room leaves me having to keep at least one open for students to take AR tests on and to do AM Math on. That leaves 3 for blogs which is feasible and possibly 4 if I plan it to where I can do center time. Maria you are dfinitely correct that the process of communcicating openly must be watched and conducted very carefully. My students do not have access to computers at home. There is a public library but the problem with that is the population of my students is a population that lives in poverty. Parents do not have cars and there is not really public transportation around here to get people anywhere except two taxis in our town. So getting the kids to the public library after school is a problem because they just do not have cars. Out of my whole school of maybe 400 kids, only a measly 40 or so have transportation. We just had open house last week and curriculum night and I had no parents show up because of lack of transportation mainly. I agree that learning is not limited to school boundaries, its just finding and encouraging my kids to do so since at home, eduaction isn't really talked about and the parents are mainly parents who have dropped out and not finished school themselves so we battle with trying to get the kids to see the importance and value of an education when everyone at home around them don't stress the importance of it.