Here we go!
So I now have a blog, like everyone else in the group. I think I am going to be exploring how to use Blogger as a tool for on-line book discussions at our school. I'm looking forward to learning more about this tool as well as some of the others to help me with my library "publicity" as well as to collaborate with classroom teachers on what they are doing with their students.
I think this is a great idea. I am trying to figure out how to best utilize my blog for special education.
ReplyDeleteOne of the downfalls with blogs is if your are trying to keep track of how many posts your students do. In a class I just finished it was recommended that you look for quality of responses rather than quantity of responses. I thought that was a great idea and I think that would be helpful in book groups as well. Great idea to use it as a book group discussion forum. Kids like to get feedback and communicate, especially if it's on the computer :)
ReplyDeleteI've tried answering this twice Tara, but my internet connection was pretty "iffy" the past 2 weeks, so here goes again:
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction was that you could use teachers' blogs (if they use them) to keep on top of expectations and assignments for some of your students, but then realized that that was about other teachers' blogs, not your own. So - what if you used it as a place to post ideas and reminders of certain study tips, organization hints, etc. that you have introduced to your students and where they can comment on how they might have been helpful to them. They could also post their helpful hints of things they have tried that work for them, especially older to younger students. Again, I realize the confidentiality thing is the stumbling block here.
My use of blogs will be for students to have an area that allows them the autonomy portion of the course and has them express their learning in a style that has meaning and purpose for them. The blog that I will publish for each course will be an attempt to model what I expect from their blogs.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like the best about this tool is that it allows each of us to create it to meet our own needs and goals. I think it is also important for students to have another avenue to publish and create on the internet that is in addition to Facebook. I hope I can interest them in this format to expand their horizons.