Five Weeks Later (it just seemed like six)
I have been using a classroom blog with my 7th and 8th grade science students for the past 5 weeks or so. It seemed to take so long to get started — finding the right blog hosting service, the right way to introduce my students to the idea, designing the right assignments, picking the right template, etc. But from the first post, the experience has been like being fired out of the proverbial cannon.
First, there was the period and a half for each of my 4 classes teaching them how to post to the blog, and what constituted proper etiquette, and how they would be graded. Second, there was the blocks of time doing individual coaching. Third, the excitement of the stack of emails I would receive as the students post their assignments.
It has been just what I wanted — a place where the students could have a conversation outside the classroom setting with me and, more importantly, with each other.
The biggest accomplishment so far: their writing has, as a group, significantly improved since we began. The standard assignment thus far is for them to find a science related article in some reputable publication, and write a summary and reflection on that article. This gets posted to the blog each week. Additionally, they are to read the work of at least 3 other students and to comment constructively on it.
Let’s do the math, each week my 100 students post 1 report and 3 comments. That’s a great deal of discourse from them. And enough from me for now.
November 20, 2006 @ 4:57 pm
I’d say that’s a significant accomplishment–congratulations!
December 4, 2006 @ 8:29 pm
Thanks for your blog. I found it through Will Richardson’s blog. You are an inspriation to me. I have been trying to figure out whether I should allow students to have individual blogs. I thought the number of blogs would be unmanageble. You seem to be making it work. Currently, I have a class blog and encourage students to comment on questions posted on the blog. I like the idea of using assignments such as the one you have been using. Congratulations and keep up the good work.