I began another school related blog for students and parents so that they could keep up to date with homework and tests and things of that nature. It is interesting to see some of the reactions start to roll in. I had one parent call me up today asking what a blog was and why I was using it. I tried to explain the best I could (though it is much easier to 'get it' by looking at one) but at the end of the conversation she still wasn't convinced. It didn't help that I mentioned she would get some more information on it tomorrow because I am having all my students do blogs this year instead of journal writing in class. This applies to every student in ELA, from grade six to grade twelve. There has been a bit of resistance now from students as well as today I was going over internet safety and the ongoing blogging assignment they will have to complete. Basically, I have asked them to, on their own time, complete 2 blog posts a week for the course; they can blog about ANYTHING they like, but the senior highs need some depth of thought. Junior Highs go all year, senior highs are semestered. I spoke with the senior highs about it today, and had decided to search out a variety of blogs to show them so they could get an idea about all the options they have.
By now you may be wondering why this post is called "The Cake Song". Well, last night as I was searching blindly for good blogs to show (by repeatedly hitting the "Next Blog" button at the top of my blog) I came across a blog with a video called "The Cake Song". I thought this would invoke some laughter and help them see just what they can do with a blog. Check it out below if you like stupid, but addicting videos. Ensure you have your volume on and up BEFORE clicking on Play.
It did its job with the students. As funny as you think it is to blast the volume and dance along while you sit in your own home, try to picture 18 senior high students blaring the song from 18 computers, all started at different times. It was a blast! By the end of the class most of them seemed excited to give blogging a try. We'll see how it goes tomorrow as I walk them through setting up their blog and ensuring proper settings.
As for the slow-to-catch-up-with-technology parents, I guess I will have to be patient and hope they are willing to move out of their own comfort zones and out into the wonderful world of the world wide web (or as Homer Simpson calls it "the interweb").
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Hi Jon,
I think it's a grea idea that you are having all your kids blog.
I don't know if you and I ever had this discussion, but back when Jen was in high school, it was all the rage for sutdents to spend a period watching a movie. The rational of those who thought this was a good idea (and who knows, maybe you're one of them :>)) was that, "Movies are a form of communication too."
I always shook my head at that one. The main form of communicating, one to another, is speaking or writing, and that is what I always thought should be taught in our schools.
Blogging, I think, is an excellent exercise in formulating, organizing and communicating one's thoughts, and therefore, an effective way of preparing for life in the, 'real world.' Good work!
Well, I am a fan of studying all the various forms of how we are able to communicate ideas, including film (which the Alberta Government has included in the curriculum); however, my primary focus is still on writing. Even when studying film my students respond with analytical writing, and my grade twelves do the opposite, taking a poem and creating a short film using imovie (on the Macs) to represent the MOOD of the poem.
Blogging certainly works on many different writing skills, as well as improving computer skills (which the government also requires) and is a very easy way to allow students some ownership over their work--which too often lacks in English classes.
Hey don't put all of us parents in the slow-to-embrace-technology compartment. I know I fit there in many other things, but I did get you blogging and might have even suggested it as something you could use with your students. And your father-in-law, John is way ahead of both of us!
It was not my intent to say that all parents fit into that category, only that there are some out there who do.
Post a Comment