Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Some Thoughts


As technology expands and permeates our society, more learning is offered virtually.  I am a lover of learning, so if online learning is more convenient for certain individuals, well, then, hooray!  It is certainly better than no learning at all.  In cases of natural disaster or debilitating illness, I can see only the positive.  However, I do not sanction virtual learning in cases of laziness.  Do you think that is a rational fear?  I firmly believe that the social aspect of school is just as important and valid as the academic aspect.  I believe that it is only in extreme circumstances that we should accept virtual learning.  There is much to be learned in a classroom with other real, live, breathing humans. 
 
Teaching with Author’s Blogs – Denise Johnson
As a writing tutor for undergraduate and graduate students, I witness writing anxiety every day.  I think that, for many students, blogging can alleviate this pressure and anxiety.  There is a stigma attached to word processing and printing that simply does not exist in blogs.  Yet, students are equally (if not more) motivated by the accountability that exists when they publish their work for others to see and read online.  In your experience, do you notice less anxiety when you blog?  I sure do!
 This particular article inspired me to visit authors’ blogs in my classroom.  Often, authors blog about their writing process, and it would be awesome to expose emergent writers to that!  They can see that even successful writers struggle, and they feel less alone.

Ciao!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Advantages of Blogging


I think every teacher should blog, and here’s why:
It has advantages for children:  It enhances literacy.  It enhances traditional literacy because children are either reading the blog, or contributing their own writing to the blog, or both.  It enhances new literacies by engaging them in technological pursuits, and ones that are authentic.  It may also be used for closure, review, differentiation….I mean, the possibilities are literally endless.
It has advantages for parents:  Reading a teacher’s blog allows parents a glimpse into the life their child leads from 9 am-3pm every day.  They get a sense of what the teacher values and what his/her styles are.  It is a way to ensure that the teacher is competent!  Every parent has his/her own area of expertise, whether it be mechanics, tax, or interior design.  Few are educators themselves, but blogging is a way for them to understand the field that affects their child(ren) in such an intimate way.
It has advantages for colleagues: Teachers love other teachers.  We love sharing our ideas and resources, whether we’re giving them or taking them.  At the end of the day, we care about the children and their futures, and blogs provide an opportunity to improve another’s performance through feedback and/or resources, and to improve our own performance by considering the views of others.
It has advantages for the blogger: Their work is subject to peer review and the teacher is able to improve from constructive criticism, or to continue the practices that are esteemed.
(With a little help from this guy)
What are some potential disadvantages?