educator

Task #1

How is blog reading different or the same as other reading?

Blogging seems to be different in that its a collaborative activity where as reading is oneway and more passive in terms of interaction.  When you blog you can share news on the web easily.  Blogging can be used as a discussion tool.  It is two way communication.  You read each others blogs, forming a community that can inspire, enlighten and motivate each other.  Everything can happen in real time.  Unlike with a book that can inform, but can’t give you immediate feedback. I found the blog entitled “Rationale for Educational Blogging” very interesting, because it shows how blogs provide for interaction and information. Student and teacher learn from each other.

How can blogging facilitate learning? 

Blogs can be shared between students, teachers, and school administrators, as well as others on the web. You have the latest data at your disposal. Teachers can share lesson plans and integrate lessons. Strategies and ideas can be shared, that help educators to present lessons in a new and fresh way.  It appears that students write more indept when writing blogs, because they know they will be read.  They seem to care more about their writing. Students become more involved in their learning. After  reading the articles and watching the videos on Web 2.0, I can see more clearly the value of blogging.

What do you notice about blogging in general?

It is growing globally.  Each day more and more people are blogging.  About 1.4 blogs are created every second.  Japanese is currently the number one blogging language followed by English, Chinese, and Italian.  It appears that if we are to stay up to date with what’s current we must learn to blog, and become active participants.  Its seems to be an excellent tool  for today’s digital learner. With blogging you can also incorporate other technologies, such as pod-casting, and tagging.  Today it seems to be the best way to share ideas across the globe and build communities of learning . Article, “State of the Live Web 2007″

I found the blog about, “Why I don’t assign homework” to be very interesting.  It does seem to be true that students who are strong in a  subject are more likely to complete homework assignments, where as students who need the practice seem not to take homework very seriously .  I do believe students need to practice concepts at home, where they have a better chance of getting some one on one help.  But all to often that help is not there, so students don’t get the reinforcement that homework is intended to give.  I am not sure about the solution, but homework needs to be reevaluated.

I liked the blog about “Power Point Reform” .  Power Points can be very boring.  It was great to read suggestions on how to make them more relevant and interesting.  I plan to incorporate some of these techniques the next time I use a Power Point.

The blog about “5th Grade” was a little sad.  I liked his attitude, but can’t help feeling  that he is being damaged by his relationship with his brother.  The good thing about the blog is that a school counselor or teacher can read it and and provide some support and strategies for Patrick.

The “Second Grade Missing Duck” blog is just to sweet.  It gave me so much hope.  If second graders can blog, than I can to. I especially like the one about the duck going to Hawaii.  Really creative and funny.  I am sure the students, teachers, and parents got a kick out of reading these.  For the second graders this type of reading might be more interesting than reading a book.  What ever works ( within reason)to get students excited about reading is alright with me.