Well, this post may very well be the end of my blogging career. I have tried to embrace it personally, but it's just not my thing; however, given the chance, I will try to use it in the classroom, if only because it would probably be something the students would enjoy.While browsing the net the other day for novel educational uses of blogs, I came upon a site that contained blog entries of students studying in Europe. This, I thought, is something that a foreign-language or social studies teacher could use in class. If an American exchange student or college-level study-abroad student created a blog detailing his/her language or cultural experiences abroad, students in Hoboken could respond and ask questions (Do they really say ciao in Spain?). This would be infinitely more interesting than reading an excerpt about the country from a textbook that is probably out of date. Students could learn about Spain, France or South Africa through the eyes of another student. The blog could contain all the usual - pictures, video clips, links, etc. The whole blogging experience could be part of the main lesson plan or an extra credit assignment. Even the student abroad could possibly earn regular or extra credit for setting up the blog and participating on a regular basis.
What do you think? Could you adapt this idea to your classroom?
5 comments:
I think your idea of having students blog with students aboard is good! I worked with a student last school year who was in learning support and wants to go to college (possibly for journalism). This student was taking Spanish to meet the foreign language requirements. With the help of the IEP team and the student's own determination this student earned a C or better each grading period in Spanish. I think the kind of assignment you are suggesting would have been benificial for this student all the way around. (Please visit my blog at www.sue517.blogspot.com - thanks!)
Great blogs! I agree with you that blogging won't be a major part of my classroom technology, however. It just doesn't seem to fit. Maybe we can change the world, though, and develop some great teaching related blogs. I think I'm going to keep posting while I'm still in this program at Clarion. After that, I don't know.
Hola! Just wanted to come back and add on to my comment from last night. I tutored an ESL adult learner several years ago and it was such a rich experience hearing about the customs of another country. I think I learned as much as the student did. Studying another language and culture broadens a person view and hopefully deepens their appreciation of the world we live in. Your site is super!
You should read my discussion post on technology. You may or may not understand it, but you would need to research semiotics first.
I think it is important that people eliminate opinion and start to use factual backing. This is graduate school and our opinions don't really matter. If people want to make a point about what they think, then they should go onto the Ph. D. level, which I will be after this year.
Look into Jaques Derrida (Spelling?) and see what you think.
Y is only a perversion of X
Bonnie,
Excellent ideas! I enjoyed following your blog. Great work!
Don't forget what I mentioned before, I don't think blogs are terribly useful with students but think they are an amazing way to collaborate and commiserate with colleagues.
Enjoy,
~ John
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