I enjoyed looking at the several different ways teachers used blogs in their classroom. The one that stuck out to me the most was the Room 209 Blog - written and kept running by a Second Grade Class from Chicago, with their teacher moderating (of course!). I admit, at first I clicked on this link [from, http://escrapbooking.com/blogging/index.htm] because of pure interest and not really knowing how good it would be...
Question. Get students involved with asking questions.
This might not catch many other people's eyes, but being a vegetarian myself I was interested in knowing what a classroom was wanting to know about it and what people were telling them. Once I started further exploring the blog, I realized what all the class uses this blog for ~ asking questions, discussing ideas and what they are learning about, sharing sources they have used, posting their own poetry, and reflecting on their many different ideas and opinions. I espiecially liked how you could go down the side and see a whole list of questions they have asked people to answer on their blog.
This blog is supporting teaching in a way that the children are being taught many different opinions and about the ways people live, along with getting real answers to their questions. The entire blog supports learning because there are so many various questions being answered for them to read and learn from. Most of the questions were not simply answered with a yes, no, or short explanation... They are answered with detailed descriptions, information, and sometimes explanations of different cultures and ways people live their lives.
By using this blog as a learning tool, a teacher could meet all of the following NETS-T performance indicators :
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
| a. | promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. |
| b. | engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. |
| c. | promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes. |
| d. | model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments. |
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:
| a. | design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. |
| b. | develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. |
Go check out Room 209's Blog and hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did!
(maybe, you'll even learning something!)
http://209.typepad.com/room_209/
