tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post299282622043682617..comments2024-03-13T06:04:34.407-04:00Comments on The 21st Century Principal: Why Wouldn’t We Let Students Blog? Reasons to Get Students BloggingJohn Robinson Ed.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-91596529686213959652013-07-07T14:20:59.847-04:002013-07-07T14:20:59.847-04:00Personally, the value in blogs, in my opinion, lie...Personally, the value in blogs, in my opinion, lie in the potential for students to engage authentic audiences. Blogging becomes "real writing" if that is the case, so the motivation is natural for students to write clear and compelling pieces. The problem with blogging, however, is that when it's used just to post non-virtual types of writing, then the writing is still not authentic. I personally see a blog, not as a place for students to showcase their best writing, but a real-world place to experiment with what it takes to engage a global audience. That might mean initially partnering with another class on the other side of the world, but once the conversation in the blog starts, then authentic, clear, meaningful and compelling writing will happen.John Robinson Ed.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-68968316621284124102013-07-06T12:24:23.842-04:002013-07-06T12:24:23.842-04:00Thank you for your thoughtful post about blogging....Thank you for your thoughtful post about blogging. However, I have been grappling with the question of how to use blogs as workspaces vs. showcases, or a combination of both. As a ninth grade English teacher, teaching students to write more clearly and compellingly is one of my primary purposes. How would you recommend striking a balance between blogging that is free-formed and writing that receives composition-based feedback? Are blogs simply more low-stakes writing spaces for students? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-35045392245644121642013-06-27T21:15:45.300-04:002013-06-27T21:15:45.300-04:00I think it is important to remember that problems ...I think it is important to remember that problems like the one your describe is not a technology issue; it's a behavior issue. We address the inappropriate behavior, not the technology.John Robinson Ed.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-7103812143055276342013-06-23T06:00:55.964-04:002013-06-23T06:00:55.964-04:00Love this. You can also look into a wiki account f...Love this. You can also look into a wiki account for educators. I created a wiki for my reading groups the last year I taught 5th grade. Each group had their own wiki for the book they were reading. As they read they controlled the design of the front page, and carried their socratic discussion to the book forum. Regardless of reading level, everyone participated eagerly... students who typically didn't finish reading and preparing for the discussion not only finished on time or ahead of schedule, and contributed to deeply rich conversation. The asynchronous format gave students who often didn't speak up due to shyness or a need for more time to gather their thoughts the opportunity to say their peace. And, as Matt mentioned, concerns about cybermonsters are alleviated by the privacy settings you arrange for the wiki. Lastly, each student account acted as an email, so it was a chance to bring many of my students online despite not having access or computers at home. I simply reserved the lab every two days to give them time to post, made arrangements with the local library, and ensured access to classroom computers throughout the day. Glogster makes vlogging accessible to students in similar fashion...<br />K Nelsonhttp://mixedupmuse.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-36967694254602611132013-06-20T10:37:14.969-04:002013-06-20T10:37:14.969-04:00Thanks. You are absolutely correct. Blogging is po...Thanks. You are absolutely correct. Blogging is powerfully engaging for our students. Thanks for the Google Sites and Edmodo suggestions too.John Robinson Ed.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155145743617621924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-62620379660547581572013-06-20T09:47:46.572-04:002013-06-20T09:47:46.572-04:00This blog rocks--I'm reading through your post...This blog rocks--I'm reading through your posts--(singing) AWE-SOME (stop singing)!<br /><br />My kids have blogged, used epals, published their work on our website, etc. I've never had an issue. This year, the fifth grade teacher had his kids researching online for a paper and they were emailing themselves good links to use while writing at home. Of course, the teacher can't monitor 34 laptops and one of the kids sent a sexual remark to another student. All hell broke loose. The parent of the child who received the email contacted every parent in the class via email warning parents and asking them to check their student's accounts without telling them what happened. Parents were leaving work to check email at home, freaking out, ugh! Parents were angry at the mom and there were email wars, etc. Principal was then contacted, the child was suspended but that didn't satisfy the parent so the super was contacted--nightmare! <br /><br />Do you review all the blogs before they go live? Reviewing seems the only way to prevent this problem from happening in the blogosphere. Of course, my school is now gun-shy and the idea of blogging again will probably get shot down.Elizabeth W.http://willoughby4.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2158157279489866895.post-48348708384285275872013-06-20T09:19:45.726-04:002013-06-20T09:19:45.726-04:00All of your points are well made, Jon. I am with y...All of your points are well made, Jon. I am with you on this. Blogging is an incredibly authentic and meaningful tool for writing. Several of my teachers have started using it. There is no need to engage students in this activity; the activity itself is motivation enough! I think the idea that their writing is "live" brings a whole new level of engagement for the students. <br /><br />For those that are worried about the cybermonsters out there (as you stated so well), I have found Google Sites and Edmodo as nice web tools for keeping things a bit more closed. It can be a nice way to transition to a more global audience.<br /><br />Great post!Matt Renwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05203023579327993235noreply@blogger.com