After reviewing the ISTE there are two areas that I need to address.
In Area 1d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.
Recently I become aware of teachers who are displeased with the results of their using a blog with students. The complaints are students who monopolize the site, two students answer the question and other students just post a copied answer, or there is no discussion between students. Teachers are displeased with the blogging experience.
I think that modeling a good blog would be helpful. Students have to be presented with open end questions. Not a question with one answer. A question with two sides or multiple answers will help the teacher to produce better conversations online. The teacher should be monitoring the site prior to the due date of the posting. The teacher can help to keep students from monopolizing the site or keep the conversation going by posting questions about student responses or more insight into the question prior to the final due date.
In area 5a. Participates in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.
I have never participated in Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. I saw no redeeming qualities in any of the sites. Recently I learned of a teacher who is using her Facebook in a different way. She is not posting pictures of herself and her family. She is in groups of teachers who are using a program called ALICE. She shows how her students are using the program and has connected with others who are using it. They have come up with new applications for the program. This type of global learning I am very interested in.
Using GAME my plan would be:
Set Goals:
Modeling good blogs for other teachers to monitor and learn from. Find out more about groups that deal with Home Ec. and blogs. Become a more global teacher and learn from other teachers who are using the technology tools.
Take Action:
Set up blogs for my classes. Join Facebook and/or Twitter to search for teachers using technology in Home Ec.
Monitor:
Have discussions with other teachers in my school about success and struggles in specific blogs. Assist other teachers when possible with their blog questions. Connect to other teachers sites and watch progress. Look for advantages and disadvantages to the technologies presented on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Evaluate and Extend:
Compare my blogging results with other teachers. Make sure students are actively participating. See if Facebook and Twitter can produce the information and results anticipated by another teacher. Is there a better way to connect to Home Ec. information that is current, ongoing and globally.
About Me
- cwwade
- Midwest, Illinois
- I am a teacher of Home Economics at the High School level and breed Boer Goats. Pictured is my daughter and Wackberry Hill Butterscotch. They won Sr. Meat Goat Showmanship at the 2009 Illinois State Fair.
5 comments:
Cindy,
I like the idea of becoming a global teacher to learn from others. I feel that my experience at Walden has created an opportunity to learn about new technologies such as this blog. Like you, I don't see much value in using Facebook but that might be because I struggle to find time to be a teacher, a mom and a student. However, I like the idea of joining educational blogs as I'm constantly looking for ideas to improve my teaching. The beauty of the internet is that the choices can be unlimited. Don't you think?
Yolanda
Yolanda,
I also want and need to become a more global learner and to collaberation with teachers outside of my county.
Unfortunately the big talk at the teachers institutes in Home Ec are about retirement. If that is all that you are interested in a teacher is not going to work on new teaching methods.
My learning from my Walden classes have also taken me to a different level. I am in the middle of a curriculum review and had to turn in a mission statement, purpose and philosopy. The curriculum director was blown away not only that it was done one week after requested but that it was very professional. Walden helped me do that.
Cindy,
I think you're right about modeling what a good blog should look like would be beneficial, especially for those students who've never created or posted to a blog. I also think that by you checking in and participating, much like our professors do in our course discussions, it will keep the conversations going and hopefully alleviate some of those potential problems.
Cindy,
I can see where you will get a couple students monopolizing a blog and other students that may be involved in extra curricular activities, or the students that wait till the last minute, will have nothing more to elaborate on. I took a masters class at another college and the questions that we had to answer for the discussions were not very open ended. It seemed like everyone beyond the first couple students were saying the same information that everyone else. Developing good questions for the students must be created carefully. Good luck integrating your GAME plan.
Mike
Cindy
Modeling a blog is definitelty important. Our students today use codes when they are instant messaging their friends, words that we cannot even understand. Therefore, teaching them the correct way to communicate is of importance. No wonder the English teachers are so frustrated and want to do everything in their power to help students pass the regents exam. This will definitely help.
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