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When experiencing or learning a new technology for the classroom, the first questions that come to mind for me include:
Why would I use this technology? How does it make my students, better, faster, smarter? Does this make life easier for me or the students or are there more obstacles than value for learning? Would a more low-tech answer still get the same results? Does the new technology engage all of the senses? Is the technology just a "fancy pencil" or does it deepen learning or interaction? If students use this technology, how will it change the interaction with the material? What new paths will open up by using this technology? Will student use of this technology better prepare them for their futures in college or career or is the technology becoming obsolete? Will this new technology last and be adopted by others out in the world or is it a passing phase? The Answers Through the Lens of BloggingWhy would I use this technology?
Every application for jobs these days has a space for your personal portfolio, website or blog page. Blogs provide an ongoing means to documenting interest, experience and growth over time. It also provides an opportunity to attract others who have the same interests as you, to create credibility, and to provide a way for the blogger to become an expert in a certain field or topic. How does it make my students, better, faster, smarter? The new Common Core Standards include a push for students to be able to access more technical articles, video information, data and visual information. Blogs allow for practice in creating articles that meet those requirements, thus allowing students to understand the anatomy of technical writing. Students who have an authentic reading audience take more time proofreading and upping the quality of their writing. Does this make life easier for me or the students or are there more obstacles than value for learning? The blog format provides for one place for students to put a variety of information while still maintaining flexibility. The ability to categorize posts, means that blogs can be written linearly, but organized according to subject matter as needed. Would a more low-tech answer still get the same results? In this case, there is not a more low-tech answer. The unique connectivity of social media is what makes blogging so valuable. A printed brochure, or even a brochure website is not as flexible or useful as a blog portfolio. Students have the unique advantage of having their work shared to a broader online community. Does the new technology engage all of the senses? Blogs can include video, images, writing, even sound. If used properly, it can even include some Augmented Reality. Is the technology just a "fancy pencil" or does it deepen learning or interaction? Blogging includes a social aspect that can not be replaced by anything else. The single most reason that our lives have been disrupted by technology in the last five years has to do with the share-ability of the internet. When anyone can access information and people whenever needed, that is a game changer. It's time for education to step into that game changing technology. If students use this technology, how will it change the interaction with the material? The method of communicating through a blog is very different than academic writing. The paragraphs are shorter. There are more visuals. I wonder how that will change student writing overall or if it will have any affect. Blogging does get the students to open up authentic writing and readership, which means the expectations for good communication goes up. Students are less likely to write simply to please the teacher, but will write so that they are more effective in communicating to others in the community. What new paths will open up by using this technology? Students have already made real connections to people in the industry to which their writing applies. Student work is getting shared with other educators and administrators. We have always been a cutting edge school due to what and how the teachers work, but now we have included our students at a whole new level. Students can now model what a motivated learner looks like, for other students, teachers and administrators. Will student use of this technology better prepare them for their futures in college or career or is the technology becoming obsolete? Being able to document their work and growth prepares students to be ready for both college and career. Students are gaining credibility in areas which they are personally interested. Will this new technology last and be adopted by others out in the world or is it a passing phase? Blogging has been a part of our world since the internet first came into being. Blogs are used as a means for relaying news, technical, personal, and all varieties of information. This is not a passing phase, and only gets stronger as social media gains ground. |
Common Core
21st Century Skills
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