Blogging in the Classroom

So I've been thinking long and hard about this. I came up with some things I was worried about and other things I was excited about.

Worries:

• Blogging would become a hassle to the students
• They wouldn't have time to complete their blogs or even start them
• They wouldn't want to write about something specific assigned by the teacher

Excited about:

• Students getting to share their thoughts/ideas
• Getting to use the computer in a new and exciting way they might not have before
• Using something that is easy to share with classmates, family, and friends

I decided how I would use blogging after those thoughts.
First I would introduce blogging to the students and make sure they know what they purpose was, and how it works. I would show them my blog, the teachers blog. They will be required to sign a paper that talks about the expectations, requirements, guidelines, and rules of blogging after we have covered them all. Once I've modeled how it works, I would have the students create their usernames and I would approve them (they can be creative with these).

Next I would have students write their first blog. Their first blog would be about themselves including hobbies, family, friends, interests, maybe their favorite book, etc. As the teacher I would monitor their typing skills and make sure they are making progress. If they have trouble writing I would allow them time to finish typing another time. As time goes on their typing skills should progress. After posts have been made I will want to the students to check out other blogs that their classmates have created, and show them how to comment appropriately.

Just like our class, I will require that each student blog once a week minimum. These blog entries will vary in topic. Each week I would post a list of 2-3 topics they could write about for that weeks entry. Things such as what you did this past weekend, a little bit about the book your reading, give them a story starter and have them write a short story, or free choice. These topics would be fun to write about and it gives them options.

Once they have gotten the hang of things, I will make sure that the teacher blog is following all the students so they can easily access others, along with posting a list of what usernames everyone has so they can search for them. On the teacher blog the topic list for the week will be provided, along with homework reminders, information for parents, along with mystery extra credit for students. It won't be required that the students look at the teachers, but they may get suprised when they find extra credit opportunities or other fun suprises. Although they aren't required to check the teachers, they are required to post 2 comments on other classmates blogs each week.

The teacher will keep track of posts and comments, making sure they are appropriate and completed. I would allow 10 minutes for each student during class to take turns on the computer to write their blog or comment. This would allow for students who dont' have computers at home to still complete the requirements. Computers would be available before and after school as well.

Throughout the year I may require the blogging for a project or other assignments.

One other thing I would want the students to do sometimes is read other blogs, that aren't their classmates. I, as the teacher, would go out and find a blog about something relevant to our classroom, or topic we are discussing, or maybe just something interesting. I would share the link with them to read. I would also show them how you search for other blogs, and what other people might use blogs for like recipes, holiday ideas, or just a life journal.

That's what I would use blogging for. I want it to be fun for the students, but informative for me.

Research #2 (1:1 initiative)

I read a research article on the 1:1 laptop initiative. I found a few things that stood out to me as suprising, and a few things that I totally agree with and that back up my thoughts on the idea.

Suprising:
"Claims have been made that 1:1 laptop initiatives do not have a positive impact on student achievement at school."

Some schools even cancelled the program because they weren't seeing any improvement, or not enough to make a difference. (Makes me wonder if the teachers had the support they needed to know how to implement the program effectively.)

The 1:1 laptop initiative doesn't really increase scored much in science and math in elementary, but would dramatically help in High Schools. In elementary laptops just enhance the knowledge and provide practice with concepts versus teaching the concept itself.

"A state report from Michigan indicated that student engagement was at an all-time high." This wasn't the state that reported students engagement increase! Many more have reported the same effect!

Back-up my Thoughts:
"Improvements in writing, literacy, science, exam scores, and GPAs all have been noted in various research studies."

"the more extensively students used their laptops, the better they scored."

"Research reported a marginally-significant increase in students GPA...and significant gains in studenst technological proficiency."

The article says that the 1:1 initiative has shown an increase in teacher collaboration in 1:1 schools. This makes me glad to know because I think it's important for teachers using a new tool to share how they are using it and collaborating. Sharing ideas and other tools can open a new door to knowledge at your fingertips.

Extra:

One study compared two groups of students from the same grade, and same school. One group of students did not recieve laptops, and the other had 24-hour access to a laptop. The study showed that the group with laptops "demonstrated superior writing skills."

I remember hearing about the 'fourth grade slump' when i was in middle school. It's when the students go from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn' which can be complicated. Students in a 4th grade were observed and they showed that they could outperform their peer with laptops. They outperformed in the literacy response and analysis, along with their writing skills.

Not only is having a 1:1 initiative new and exciting for a teacher, the students would be more satisfied with school and the content they learn. They would less likely be messing around, getting sent into the hall, disruptive during a lesson, and they probably wouldn't slack on their work as much.

Professional development would have a direct impact on the program and it's effectiveness.

1:1 is still a new implementation and there are bound to be new pros and concerns with the program.

Question:
I wonder how it works when a student forgets their laptop at home after having it for the weekend or overnight...


McLeod, Scott and Sauers, Nicholas J. Castle Brief: What does the research say about school one-to-one computing initiatives?. UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. University of Kentucky. Posted: Novemeber 4, 2011.

http://schooltechleadership.org/