It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of blogs out there - how do you handle information overload and how do you think RSS might help with that?
Actually I have been using Netvibes to handle RSS feeds for close to a year now. I like how I have control over when I choose to visit my site and check on the latest additions. Having ezine subscriptions doesn’t allow that and soon I find my email inbox has become unmanageable. I get overwhelmed and just delete the whole mess but then before I know it, my inbox is overflowing again! RSS feeds to a homesite definitely help in that respect.
Like the video said, it can become addicting so a word of caution. On my page I already have 4 tabs (same thing as folder in Bloglines?) and each tab has several feeds. It’s a lot of fun to check them and I can spend hours there when I’m not mindful of the time. I have learned that I don’t need to check it every day. I check in when time permits or if I am searching for something specific. Hmmm, that reminds me. I haven’t visited in a while. Maybe I better go check it now . . .
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thing 3: Blogs in Education
How might a blog support the work you do?
I can see how useful a blog would be to middle school teachers who teach the same content area. We could use a blog to have conversations about the curriculum we teach. Which lessons or strategies worked or didn’t work. Also to brainstorm new ideas. Trying to arrange a common meeting time is almost impossible. Blogs would allow us to participate when our schedules permitted and would not lock us into a specified meeting time.
How might you use a blog with students?
Teaching Social Studies I have the students write a journal entry every day as an opening activity. They respond to a prompt that helps them tap into their background knowledge and begin to think about they will learn that day. If I post this prompt in a blog they reply to, it would enable them to interact with their classmates and create a community learning experience. Another possibility for a similar use would be an exit ticket where students write about the most meaningful part of the day’s lesson/activity before they leave the classroom. Students would be reflecting on their own experience and sharing it others. By testing out their thoughts and ideas with others they would begin to develop deeper critical thinking skills. How powerful!
How might they respond to a blog assignment? What concerns do you have about educational blogging?
A middle school student is social if nothing else. Communicating via technology is the way their world works. I can only imagine they would love it if their teacher not only allowed but encouraged them to use both in the classroom! The concern I have is that students must keep it appropriate. Like we saw in the teachers’ blogs, the line between professional and personal was blurry. When working with adolescents, it is extremely important to set limits and that they understand these limits and the consequences of their online behaviors.
I can see how useful a blog would be to middle school teachers who teach the same content area. We could use a blog to have conversations about the curriculum we teach. Which lessons or strategies worked or didn’t work. Also to brainstorm new ideas. Trying to arrange a common meeting time is almost impossible. Blogs would allow us to participate when our schedules permitted and would not lock us into a specified meeting time.
How might you use a blog with students?
Teaching Social Studies I have the students write a journal entry every day as an opening activity. They respond to a prompt that helps them tap into their background knowledge and begin to think about they will learn that day. If I post this prompt in a blog they reply to, it would enable them to interact with their classmates and create a community learning experience. Another possibility for a similar use would be an exit ticket where students write about the most meaningful part of the day’s lesson/activity before they leave the classroom. Students would be reflecting on their own experience and sharing it others. By testing out their thoughts and ideas with others they would begin to develop deeper critical thinking skills. How powerful!
How might they respond to a blog assignment? What concerns do you have about educational blogging?
A middle school student is social if nothing else. Communicating via technology is the way their world works. I can only imagine they would love it if their teacher not only allowed but encouraged them to use both in the classroom! The concern I have is that students must keep it appropriate. Like we saw in the teachers’ blogs, the line between professional and personal was blurry. When working with adolescents, it is extremely important to set limits and that they understand these limits and the consequences of their online behaviors.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thing 1 & 2: Intro Web 2.0, Become a Blogger
I am participating in 23 Things because I want to find new ways to engage my students in meaningful learning experiences. I have noticed that within the past 3-4 years there has been a significant change in the way students learn. What was considered “good practice” just 5-10 years ago no longer works in a middle school classroom. I need to find a way to reach this new style of learner and I think technology might be the key. Not only do I hope to learn how to engage my students through the use of technology, I also hope that as a group we can address technology misuse/abuse by students and ways to discourage it.
Although the article was the perfect world version of technology (I really liked the new term “techedutopia” created by anonymous), what I found interesting is that it brought to light all the possibilities of using technology not only to enhance student learning but also increase collaboration and productivity among educators. I was thinking it be awesome to plan my lessons in my car on the way to school like the teacher in the article! The video was a powerful motivator to keep up with the now or get left in the dust, and I couldn’t help thinking that this is how our students learn. The driving music, flashing images, fast pace, and powerful words certainly kept my attention. This is what our students are regularly exposed to out of school. This is their norm; this is their world!
One last thing. Writing on the Internet. Cyberspace is a public domain. Anything put out there can be accessed by anyone else. Yes, even if one thinks it’s private and secure. This has made me cautious about displaying personal information. I am concerned that our students as children don’t understand the problems that can cause. Again, I hope we can also address technology misuse and abuse or at least some cautionary words from those who have experience using technology with students.
Although the article was the perfect world version of technology (I really liked the new term “techedutopia” created by anonymous), what I found interesting is that it brought to light all the possibilities of using technology not only to enhance student learning but also increase collaboration and productivity among educators. I was thinking it be awesome to plan my lessons in my car on the way to school like the teacher in the article! The video was a powerful motivator to keep up with the now or get left in the dust, and I couldn’t help thinking that this is how our students learn. The driving music, flashing images, fast pace, and powerful words certainly kept my attention. This is what our students are regularly exposed to out of school. This is their norm; this is their world!
One last thing. Writing on the Internet. Cyberspace is a public domain. Anything put out there can be accessed by anyone else. Yes, even if one thinks it’s private and secure. This has made me cautious about displaying personal information. I am concerned that our students as children don’t understand the problems that can cause. Again, I hope we can also address technology misuse and abuse or at least some cautionary words from those who have experience using technology with students.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
