Reading chapter 1 in our textbook was very important for me because it clarified how the world wide web has transitioned from a read only source of information into a read/write communication tool. I use the web almost exclusively for reading information and not entering information. The most experience I have in using the web as a read/write tool is using the weblog site for my fantasy football league, using a blogging website for a differentiated instruction on-line course, and occasionally writing blog entries about an article I read on a magazine/newspaper journal site and then emailing them to friends and/or families. Between our first class and reading chapter 1 in the textbook I am now ready to embrace the internet as a read and write tool for sharing information.
My mind has been racing with ideas how I can use the internet web to better communicate with my students. A major area that is lacking in communication with my students is students often do not like inform me when they do not understand how to do the work we are doing, have questions and explaining how to do the work. I am thinking that if the internet web is a blend of anonymous and named communication entries it could be powerful for giving the students a communication tool that they will feel comfortable using for communicating with me, especially since most of them regularly actively communicate on internet web blog sites.
I agree Alan, this is a great use in our classrooms. It can be a powerful tool if the students remain anonymous. It allows them the freedom to post information and ask questions that they may not normally ask in the classroom. Plus students are very comfortable using technology and would probably prefer to communicate using a blog.
ReplyDeleteI too found the background information useful. I think that it is very insiteful of you to think of your communication area as needing work and capable of being improved upon through blogs. I definitely know that students will communicate with you much more on the computer than they will face to face. People in general will communicate better on a computer than face to face. I have experienced this first hand with shy adults that I know who will carry on a conversation with me on the computer that I know they would not say to me in person. I have had students email me who never talk in class, so you are definitely on the right track!
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