I viewed the blog titled: "Our class' blog." This was a blog set up by a teacher for her first grade students to use and post their blogs. I found the blogs very interesting, there were cartoon looking pictures of the teacher and the other students when you looked at their names. The pictures looked like pictures they some how drew on the computer and installed them to their blog. The site was also set up with a section for teacher and student comments. It looked like this class blog was being used so students could communicate with other class mates or even just have another way to do writing activities besides paper and pencil writing. The teacher must have helped the students alot because they were only first grader and when you read their blog postings you could tell they could not spell or write well yet. I think the audience for the blog is the teacher and other students. The reason I think this is because the teacher has plases set up on the blog for teacher and student blogs and assignments. I looked like when reading the student blogs they were communicating back and forth to the teacher. The purpose of the blog is so the teachers and students can show what they are doing in their classroom. I can see clearly that this blog is still being used, because I read some blogs from students that posted new writing this October. I think the blogging tool does have potential in the class room, it gives teachers a way to get their students involved using technology and it's a great way to share ideas. The only problem I can see with blogging in the classroom is the lack of time to spend teaching students how to do it.
The second blog I looked at was titled "Technology Article" blogging, my dear Watson it's elementary. It looked as though it was created by a fourth grade teacher who reall was encouraging educators to use blogging in their own classroom. It had lots of information about how to get started blogging. It also had bloggs that talked about using this kind of technology in elementary school. The author wrote about how elemetary school students write better when they kno they will have a real life audience. The author said that used to be had but now students can write through blogger and can publish their writing on the web. The audience for this blogg was other educators and people interested to see how technology could be used in the classroom. The purpose of this blog is to get people interested in blogging by telling them why they should blog. It is also showing the progress being made usng blogger with fourth grade students. From what I can tell this blog is still beig used and updated periodically. I think using the blogs in the elementary school class room is great, it just seems like it would take alot of teacher supervision becuase it will be complicated getting the students started.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Blog Post 1: Initia van Tonder
Blackboard: "K-12 Online Learning in the 21st Century: Report and Podcast"
One of the blogs that I checked out was based from a website called
"Blackboard". It is a blogging site that ranges from k-12, and invites the participation of teachers, parents, and students alike. There are a variety of specific blogs that you can look at, and I choose to look at "K-12 Online Learning in the 21st Century: Report and Podcast." I thought it was pretty appropriate since we have been discussing and exploring ideas and products based on e-learning.
A link from the Blackboard forum lead me to the actual blogging site. The blog is aimed at getting teachers to give their feedback about experiences that they have had with not only their students, but also their admistration, as they work towards incorporating educational technology into the classroom through this Online Learning in the 21st Century program. Teachers are invited to share their views and experiences on topics and issues such as the tracking of students who suffer from ADD in the e-learning environment, data or information about success of programs like the 21st Century program in smaller schools, the types of equipment that teachers are incorporating into the classroom for e-learning, and many many more issues. The blog provides helpful links to podcasts, as well as any other websites that contributors discuss or address. This site is active and very current. Teachers seem to be very eager to contribute their thoughts and plans about e-learning, particulary because it is such a new phenomenon. I feel that this blogging tool is a great way to promote communication between teachers from not only all over the United States, but also all over the world.
This particular tool has great potential for teachers in and out of the classroom. It promotes an environment of perpetual communication and sharing that is aimed specifically at helping the teaching community. Teachers could and do easily use this tool to discuss educational issues in and outside of the classroom.
The second blogging website that I looked at was called "weblog-edu." It was a blogging site set up specifically for the first k12 online convention about incorporating educational tools into the classroom. Teachers where able to use this site to post their ideas about prompts for the convention, or issues that they believed where important and necessary for discussion at the confrence. This site dates back to 2006, so it was very helpful and innovative for teachers who where just beginning to get introduced to technology in the classroom. The blog framework was based on a weekly evualtion of the progressions of the confrence, starting with week 1: "A Week in the Classroom" Week one was based on issues that teachers where facing as they began training with the new technological tools, and how this might serve to be problematic in the classroom. Week two: "Personal Proffesional Development" was aimed at discussing ideas about how to develop and expand your own (the teacher's) proffesional use of the technological tools, as well as considering how individual knowledge could be used to enhance the greater school community. There was a variety of teachers from all over the country who where giving their comments and proposals in accordance with the conventional prompts. This site, however, seems to be inactive at this point. It was clearly very useful at the time of the confrence, and though it is no longer in active use, it is still a helpful tool because the teacher blogs are still present and available. Perhaps struggling teachers could draw inspiration from those who pioneered the incorporation of technology in the classroom. I feel that this blog is a very helpful tool, for in, or out of the classroom use. Again, like with the previous website, it promotes an attitude of co-operation and progression amongst educators.
Blackboard: "K-12 Online Learning in the 21st Century: Report and Podcast"
One of the blogs that I checked out was based from a website called
"Blackboard". It is a blogging site that ranges from k-12, and invites the participation of teachers, parents, and students alike. There are a variety of specific blogs that you can look at, and I choose to look at "K-12 Online Learning in the 21st Century: Report and Podcast." I thought it was pretty appropriate since we have been discussing and exploring ideas and products based on e-learning.
A link from the Blackboard forum lead me to the actual blogging site. The blog is aimed at getting teachers to give their feedback about experiences that they have had with not only their students, but also their admistration, as they work towards incorporating educational technology into the classroom through this Online Learning in the 21st Century program. Teachers are invited to share their views and experiences on topics and issues such as the tracking of students who suffer from ADD in the e-learning environment, data or information about success of programs like the 21st Century program in smaller schools, the types of equipment that teachers are incorporating into the classroom for e-learning, and many many more issues. The blog provides helpful links to podcasts, as well as any other websites that contributors discuss or address. This site is active and very current. Teachers seem to be very eager to contribute their thoughts and plans about e-learning, particulary because it is such a new phenomenon. I feel that this blogging tool is a great way to promote communication between teachers from not only all over the United States, but also all over the world.
This particular tool has great potential for teachers in and out of the classroom. It promotes an environment of perpetual communication and sharing that is aimed specifically at helping the teaching community. Teachers could and do easily use this tool to discuss educational issues in and outside of the classroom.
The second blogging website that I looked at was called "weblog-edu." It was a blogging site set up specifically for the first k12 online convention about incorporating educational tools into the classroom. Teachers where able to use this site to post their ideas about prompts for the convention, or issues that they believed where important and necessary for discussion at the confrence. This site dates back to 2006, so it was very helpful and innovative for teachers who where just beginning to get introduced to technology in the classroom. The blog framework was based on a weekly evualtion of the progressions of the confrence, starting with week 1: "A Week in the Classroom" Week one was based on issues that teachers where facing as they began training with the new technological tools, and how this might serve to be problematic in the classroom. Week two: "Personal Proffesional Development" was aimed at discussing ideas about how to develop and expand your own (the teacher's) proffesional use of the technological tools, as well as considering how individual knowledge could be used to enhance the greater school community. There was a variety of teachers from all over the country who where giving their comments and proposals in accordance with the conventional prompts. This site, however, seems to be inactive at this point. It was clearly very useful at the time of the confrence, and though it is no longer in active use, it is still a helpful tool because the teacher blogs are still present and available. Perhaps struggling teachers could draw inspiration from those who pioneered the incorporation of technology in the classroom. I feel that this blog is a very helpful tool, for in, or out of the classroom use. Again, like with the previous website, it promotes an attitude of co-operation and progression amongst educators.
The first blog that I viewed was the blog from the teacher of year out in Missouri Mr. Langhourst. I thought since he taught history then he might have some useful information for me since I too want to teach social studies in the future. It was cool because students could go onto his website and check out all of his pod casts that were going with the lessons of the current week, and of course as soon as the screen popped up much of it was about the current presidential election. He had a lot of useful “stuff” on there about how the school was participating in a mock election, and how exactly the school was doing it. The blog clearly has different audiences, many times it is the parents when they want to see what is going on the classroom, but if the students want to get a deeper understanding of what is going on in the classroom: such as the cool lesson that he has on the Declaration of Independence and the Election through pod casting then they could. The purpose of this blog was to be informative to his students, fellow teachers in how they teach students, and parents if they want to know what is going on with their students education. This blog is still very active he continues to post pictures of activities that he does when he is away from the classroom and most recently he posted something from the election after Obama won with “President in Transition and a link to his website. I think this tool is great I love how he utilized this tool in that it is not so much used as a way to make his students do work through technology, but a way to help them, inform, and allow them to get to know him on a level that is their own.
The next blog that I used was Ms. Huff’s English class and thought that this was very much a different turn from the one that I viewed earlier. However, that does not mean it was bad just different. I t was certainly a very informative blog and was used for the students and parents to keep them updated on the assignments for the next and upcoming days if they happen to miss anything then they could make it up. However there did not seem to be very much technology utilized within this blog, but the students and the parents did stay updated. It does appear that the blog is still up and running and the teacher keeps everyone updated on the events going on within all of her classrooms. I think it could be good tool especially reminding students of the safety issues on the web and maybe adding a little technology to the blog.
The next blog that I used was Ms. Huff’s English class and thought that this was very much a different turn from the one that I viewed earlier. However, that does not mean it was bad just different. I t was certainly a very informative blog and was used for the students and parents to keep them updated on the assignments for the next and upcoming days if they happen to miss anything then they could make it up. However there did not seem to be very much technology utilized within this blog, but the students and the parents did stay updated. It does appear that the blog is still up and running and the teacher keeps everyone updated on the events going on within all of her classrooms. I think it could be good tool especially reminding students of the safety issues on the web and maybe adding a little technology to the blog.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Blog Post #1 by Anna Davison
The first blog that I looked at was for Mrs. Huff's English Classes. On this particular blog, Mrs. Huff seemed to direct most of the blog postings to the Students and the Parents or any others who may be interested in what upcoming assignments and events are taking place within her class room. Her students range from 9th Grade, 11th Grade and 12th Grade. It is specified on each posting who the posting or comment is directed towards. The purpose of this blog is to help students and parents to keep up with assignments, changes in their assignments and grade posting updates. I found that this would be very useful in any class when or if a student should miss an assignment or be out of school for a period of time; this would work excellently to keep everyone up to date on what is going on within the class. The blog is updated at least weekly from what I have read. That is the minimum it seems to keep students posted on assignments. I certainly found this tool very useful for the classroom in that it would be excellent for keeping assignments posted so that none of the students are unaware of any work. I really liked this blog. I found it very simple and easy to navigate and I truly believe that this blog is very useful for both students and teachers in the classroom because it will make organization and keep information easily available for parents and students.
The second blog that I viewed was a blog by Dean Meyer for his 5th grade class. I believe that his audience is his students as well as their parents. This blog is used in correlation with the classroom in that students are kept aware of upcoming assignments as well as allowing them to post assignments or post comments on this page. The purpose of this blog is to keep students as well as parents informed of the work that they are responsible for as well as allowing students a different avenue for students to do their work. This blog is being used regularly by the teacher as well as the students. The teacher seems to post sporadically; however, the students appear to post almost daily. Students can post responses to homework or other assignments. One comment by a student was a paper written by a fifth grader through the eyes of 'Bigfoot'. I found this great. I really liked the blog and found that obviously the teacher uses this blog on a regular basis to teach his students. I was amazed that fifth graders are using this blog as much as they are. It is a great way to get kids interested technology while teaching them something related to content as well. I think that this tool certainly has potential for the classroom because it is an easy way to keep assignments, homework, and other assignments easily available for students, parents and teachers to see.
The second blog that I viewed was a blog by Dean Meyer for his 5th grade class. I believe that his audience is his students as well as their parents. This blog is used in correlation with the classroom in that students are kept aware of upcoming assignments as well as allowing them to post assignments or post comments on this page. The purpose of this blog is to keep students as well as parents informed of the work that they are responsible for as well as allowing students a different avenue for students to do their work. This blog is being used regularly by the teacher as well as the students. The teacher seems to post sporadically; however, the students appear to post almost daily. Students can post responses to homework or other assignments. One comment by a student was a paper written by a fifth grader through the eyes of 'Bigfoot'. I found this great. I really liked the blog and found that obviously the teacher uses this blog on a regular basis to teach his students. I was amazed that fifth graders are using this blog as much as they are. It is a great way to get kids interested technology while teaching them something related to content as well. I think that this tool certainly has potential for the classroom because it is an easy way to keep assignments, homework, and other assignments easily available for students, parents and teachers to see.
Friday, October 24, 2008
K-12 Blog Evaluation by Busteacher
The first blog I visited was Mr. Meyer’s 5th grade blog. Mr. Meyer has not utilized the blog that often since the beginning of the school year. The blog appears to be used in the classroom as a tool for the teacher to periodically update the students and for students to comment on things done in the classroom. This is a way for parents to stay informed of what the students are doing, as well. The blog is still being used with the most recent posting on October 24. Blogging is a great idea in and outside of the classroom as it opens the lines of communication between the teacher and the students. Some students will never take an active role inside of the classroom, but they may voice their opinion in a blog entry. However, blogging appears to take a great deal of time/work on the part of the teacher who has to read the comments and (hopefully) respond to each one of them. Also, you would inevitably have those students who will attempt to abuse the platform by saying inappropriate things. All in all, blogging is a great communication tool for teachers, students, parents, and administrators. It also gives the students extra practice in composing sentences!
The second blog I visited was Mrs. Huff’s 9th-12th English class. This blog is used in direct concert with the classroom. The teacher has posted weekly syllabi for each of her classes as well as links to notes and handouts for student s who were absent. Students, parents, and administrators would be the intended audience, as well as other teachers. The purpose of the blog is to organize the four English classes in an electronic format so that the students have all the tools they need to succeed. The teacher is requiring the students to be proactive in their education and take responsibility for the work they have missed. This blog appears to be still in use with the last weekly entry posted on October 20 (Tech Tip). Blogging is a great tool that has potential inside and outside of the classroom. In this particular blog, students who have missed assignment due to illnesses can retrieve notes/handouts from home. Also, the parents can have an active role in pushing the students to succeed if they know the agenda for the week.
-Tewanna Brown
The second blog I visited was Mrs. Huff’s 9th-12th English class. This blog is used in direct concert with the classroom. The teacher has posted weekly syllabi for each of her classes as well as links to notes and handouts for student s who were absent. Students, parents, and administrators would be the intended audience, as well as other teachers. The purpose of the blog is to organize the four English classes in an electronic format so that the students have all the tools they need to succeed. The teacher is requiring the students to be proactive in their education and take responsibility for the work they have missed. This blog appears to be still in use with the last weekly entry posted on October 20 (Tech Tip). Blogging is a great tool that has potential inside and outside of the classroom. In this particular blog, students who have missed assignment due to illnesses can retrieve notes/handouts from home. Also, the parents can have an active role in pushing the students to succeed if they know the agenda for the week.
-Tewanna Brown
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