I'm in Instructional Technology (EDUC 295), and one of our first assignments was to post a forum about what we thought about using blogs in the classroom. At first, I was completely against it. I mean, how could you possibly use a blog in a classroom? Especially an English classroom? At first I thought they really had no educational value whatsoever. But now, after reading about how an actual English teacher used blogs in her classroom while reading a certain book, made me rethink me previous accusation. I think that blogs actually might be useful in the classroom. I think they actually might be a very cool thing to use while reading a novel. Students feel more comfortable when they can say what they want from the protection of their own home and behind a screen. No one can really "attack" them there, if they say something wrong or stupid. I also think it's awesome the even people from other places can access the blog and post their own comments, even though they're not in the class. I think it would be really cool if my class had a blog and some writer began commenting on it. I think it would add a whole new dynamic to the classroom and to the discussion. It would probably even be possible to get that person to come and talk to my class.
I also think that the wikibooks and the book trailer ideas are cool. Both things make students think and have a safety net behind a screen. I think that students feel more comfortable when they can see/hear other student's ideas before they share their own. I know I felt that way in high school, and even sometimes in college, but in high school we never used online technology to do things. See what I've posted here? I would never actually say this out loud in a class. I can write a paper about anything, I can write on a forum post about anything, but talking about anything in class? I just can't do it. That's why I like being able to do things like this, because I know I feel more comfortable with it. I think the book trailer idea would be better as more of a project when students have finished reading a book. I had to do something similar in my creative writing 1 class in high school, where we had to make a book jacket for the "book" we had created during the class. It was fun to see how everyone had created theirs, so I think seeing how students would make a book trailer would be cool.
I was not a huge fun of the podcast idea. I think it might be good for a teacher to have students record book discussions, because I think everyone knows that when the teacher isn't actually around, the book really isn't being discussed. I think it would probably be good for the teacher to hear what went down in the actual discussion, but then when the students post it to the website, then they could edit out those parts so the other members of the group can listen to it again if the need were to arise. Other than that, though, I don't really like the podcast idea. I would probably never use it, and if I did it would be for the reason I explained.
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteYour comment reminds me of something I would say because I too am generally skeptical of technology. I think it's because my initial understanding of technology for technology sake rather than thinking about wanting my students to accomplish a task and determining what the best way was for them to do that and that's when I began to realize that this is how students already are communicating and that I needed to at least attempt to get with the picture. That said, I'm still one of those people who don't have a Facebook (:
In response to your comment about the blogs, I've noticed that it does do exactly what you said - gives me an opportunity to find out what you all are thinking, especially those of you who are less likely to voice their opinions out loud in class. I like that we can build our electronic relationship outside of class since class is so quick and formal. I have really enjoyed having the blogs to read this semester!