Thing #4
I know we feel that the more students write the more proficient they will become. Blogging does get the students writing when the old journaling is usually a bore to them. I think this ranks behind two other important tasks. The amount of reading that takes place is incredible, particularly for the student that does not like to read novels/stories. Most importantly though is the student is required to think in order to become part of the process. Many very good students just want to know what the teacher thinks and then regurgitate those ideas on a test and walk away satisfied. I think I was a student like this. I just wanted to be “right” and would never have taken chances of having my own ideas. How scary!!!
If a writer (blogger) is invested in trying to communicate ideas, then that writer will take on the responsibility of elevating his vocabulary and enhancing his descriptions without the teacher writing in red pen in the margin. The biggest problem with this idea is that students have been emailing, texting, and IMing with little attention to forming ideas. The teacher has to TEACH and coach good blogging, I think. I found my class became very proud of its blog and then the quality was better.
I was fasinated with the connection each student made in the Biology blog,Imagine Turning On the Faucet and Nothing Coming Out. The opinions were strongly based on research. Each student challenged the other to learn more. This is education as its best.
