I discussed blogging with my media specialist at the middle school I teach at in the northern suburbs in Blaine. She started her own blog last year and is current on blogging. In Minnesota the 23 things on a stick (I believe this is what it is called) was shown during one of their monthly meetings last year to all the media professionals in the Anoka-Hennepin school district. This is a great name by the way to go along with Minnesota State Fair theme. The media specialists were asked to create their own blog. Hopefully the professionals took advantage of this opportunity.
I see blogging more and more now that this assignment was presented. Radio and television personalities seem to have one. Even in my fantasy football league there is a place to post a blog. I asked the 120 sixth graders that I teach if they heard of blogging. 85% knew of blogging and about 40% have there own blogs. So in my simple sample I see that this is something that students do and I need to stay current. So I better get on board. Hopefully so far, so good.
bp
5 comments:
Classmates.
Hopefully all is well with you. My first time with this, so here goes.
bp
I am skeptical of blogs as soapboxes for a person to go on and on about I, I, I, I, I. I am, howver, excited about blogs being used in other social manners (emphasis on manners!). For example, my son's seventh-grade English teacher uses a blog to keep parents and students posted on happenings in her class. I think a blog can be used in the media center as a way for students to contribute and interact ("Who is your favorite book character, and why?"). The trick is discernment, but then that is the deal for Life, isn't it?!? I want to make decisions based on positive aspects rather than fear.
I',m also new to blogging. Thats the first thing I thought when reading the articles:I am behind on internet technology. I use computers for basic word processing, web research and email, but nothing else. I thought it was interesting to see how weblogs are such a helpful tool in teaching. I did not know they were used professionally. IF 80% of students use them or know what they are, we as teachers or teachers-in-training should too so we can help students.
I was surprised to hear that so many of your students knew about blogs and even had one. I had somewhat heard of them but until this class I had never looked at one. Makes me feel a little outdated.
Wow - thanks for giving us an idea of how prevalent blogs are. When we discussed blogs in class on Monday with the undergraduates, we decided that blogs were one of the more "adult" web 2.0 products and so kids didn't necessary use them as they used myspace and facebook instead as their platform.
I frankly am very surprised that so many sixth graders had heard of them and even had them. Why do they have them or read them? Just curious.
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