Blogging has always been something I've wanted to try in my
classroom, but I was hesitant about using the program my school system favors
for this purpose. It seemed quite complicated and time consuming to use, and I
questioned whether it would be worthwhile at all. With that being said, I was
pleasantly surprised by the ease with which I was able to set up this blog on
blogger.com. I am still exploring many of the features available, including the
apps that can be incorporated onto the page. My initial impression is that it is very easy to customize for a
variety of purposes, making it a valuable tool for a wide range of audiences including students. I would like to explore more of the features available and can foresee using blogs in the classroom for collaborative group work, self-reflection,
online discussions or debates and much more.Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Initial Thoughts: Blogger
Blogging has always been something I've wanted to try in my
classroom, but I was hesitant about using the program my school system favors
for this purpose. It seemed quite complicated and time consuming to use, and I
questioned whether it would be worthwhile at all. With that being said, I was
pleasantly surprised by the ease with which I was able to set up this blog on
blogger.com. I am still exploring many of the features available, including the
apps that can be incorporated onto the page. My initial impression is that it is very easy to customize for a
variety of purposes, making it a valuable tool for a wide range of audiences including students. I would like to explore more of the features available and can foresee using blogs in the classroom for collaborative group work, self-reflection,
online discussions or debates and much more.
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Jess,
ReplyDeleteI am curious what system your school uses. Is it meant for teachers to blog or for students? I also agree that blogger is a very user-friendly site. I have not got to play around too much, but I will be interested to see just how much customization there is.
Andrew
Hi Andrew. My school system used Moodle which had some type of blogging feature for students and staff. We never received adequate training on how to use it and I really had too many questions to try it with my students. I have to say I like this interface much better.
DeleteJessica-
ReplyDeleteI think when taught thoroughly, students may find blogging as another great tool to collaborate and use this as another outlet for learning. I think what's great about blogger is that designs and layouts are already pre- made (unlike having to create our own designs with codes), so we only need to think about the content that we actually want to write about.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteYour discussion of blogs being used as a tool to encourage self-reflection seems very powerful. A blog would allow students to develop a reflection portfolio, which could move with them throughout grades and schools. In a world so focused on data and evidence, what a great way to showcase not only developments in knowledge but in thinking patterns and depth. Great suggestion.
Brittany
Brittany,
DeleteI love the idea of online portfolios for the exact reason you stated here. It never occurred to me to use a blog format until the reading this week, but it is such a wonderful idea because of the ability to add reflective comments. Have you ever worked with online portfolios?
Jess
Jess,
ReplyDeleteWe actually use a Google site template for our portfolios; however, they are bulky and do not allow students to comment and construct with one another. I am going to use a blog for reflection this year. I'll keep you posted!
Brittany
Hi Jess,
ReplyDeleteYour blog looks great and I know what it's like to be hesitant to try new software or new modes of technology and incorporate it into your routine as well as your students' routines. One way I found was, for a few minutes a week (I saw my students on A and B days in block scheduling) to bring the class website I made into the classroom. I would connect my laptop to my projector and show everyone the Media page (which had images, maps, charts and video clips that was related to lesson concepts that week. I would also share a place where worksheets, PowerPoint presentations and articles I wanted to share with the class that was there if they needed it. Just some ideas to encourage students to visit the website outside of class.
-Nichole