Teaching with Technology

The Educators Guide to the Read Write Web by Will Richardson

Description

Weblogs are similar to a website except the publishing option is open to many users. The user can add to a website without altering another?s work and without having to learn hypertext.

Article Findings

 Most blogs incorporate online conversations where users make comments about what is on the site. Youth may use these as a diary however; teachers and students can use blogs to elicit higher order thinking skills.  Teachers can use blogs to build resource portals and to help create learning communities. Some uses the article mentions are collaborating with authors of books, contacting mentors, and communicating with other students in a different part of the world. Blogs engage students to be more interactive and collaborative learners. They must be taught to evaluate the sources of information rather than simply accepting it as truth. For example, they need to consider the source of information. If the source is an expert in the field, their information should weigh more than a student. There may be scientists, writers, or researchers who are more knowledgeable about a topic than a teacher, willing to guide students learning. Also, students can collaborate with each other by conversing on a topic. What one student finds important may cause another student to look critically at what they find important about a topic.

Reflection

I most recently taught second grade and I believe weblogs would be very useful for engaging students in conversations about a book. I believe weblogs would be best used in small groups because a second grader may loose interest if they have to read through 20 people?s responses. I would probably assign groups initially based on student?s reading level since they already read the same books in their guided reading groups.

In order to get students to think more critically about a book, I would pose a question such as ?Do you think Charlotte or Wilbur was more special in the book Charlotte?s Web? Discuss why using examples from the book.? Once students got used to adding their opinion, I would require more from them by asking them to respond to at least one group member?s posting. I would also make sure that their postings are anonymous. Those students who are nervous about speaking up in front of their peers because they are afraid of being embarrassed may feel more comfortable if their opinions are anonymous.

I would manage the blogs by making the computer available during center time. Each student should have a chance to visit the computers at least once during the week to post. I believe students would also be motivated to sign up to visit the computer during morning work or snack time. I would also model the use of good blogs and use student?s anonymous postings to discuss strengths and weaknesses.