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__Assignment 5: Blogs __ ==

The New York Times September 26, 2009 //In the Classroom, Web Logs Are the New Bulletin Boards// By Jeffrey Selingo

This article caught my interest because it was about a 2nd grade classroom. A teacher who had just returned from a field trip to a Native American farm realized that the students all wanted to talk about what they saw. Instead of having a class discussion, she had the students go into their classroom log and write about what they had learned. They were able to interact with their peers and many who were usually quiet during classroom discussions became more actively involved. Another teacher mentioned how it is a nice way to continue spirited discussions that were cut short. Also, class doesn't have to end when the bell rings. Students can go home and add to the blog. This was a very powerful and positive article about blogging in the classroom. []

Bloggin Stocks September 10, 2009 //Google Apps a hit in the classroom// By Tom Barlow

This article was also very positive about blogging and googling in the classroom. It discussed the importance of technology and claims that 5 million students are becoming accustomed to gmail, word processing, spreadsheets, and the abilitity to create their own free websites. Google Apps Education Edition is free for k-12 and higher education students and frees up school systems of the high cost of IT support. It also has a large storage capacity and great security so is helping schools nationwide in teaching students how to use technology. []

Blogs for Learning //The Technology of Reading and Writing in the Digital Space: Why RSS is crucial for a Blogging Classroom// By David Parry, University of Albany

This article discusses the importance of not only blogging in the classroom, but the importance of RSS, which stands for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication. This author sends the message that blogging needs to be about more than simply having students write on the computer. Instead, he stresses the importance of 21st century learners having the capability to critically engage the media and navigate through the digital spaces where the information they need will be taken in. RSS helps to sort what a students wants to read from what is not of interest. This means they have to search out and set up only for the feeds they need to accomplish what they are reading and writing about. This article was a good reminder to be sure that we are using technology properly within the classroom. It needs to be more than just a place to write down information. []

CNET News //Blogging 101-Web logs go to school// October 17, 2005 By Alorie Gilbert

The article focused on how engaging it is for students to blog in the classroom. It talked of a teacher who had students set up online personal journals and then he reviews and posts the students comments online. I thought that was a great idea because ultimately we are accountable for what our students do while they are at school. This article was a little outdated, but the security of it all still needs to be there. It got my attention because it discussed how it is sparking student's interest in computers, writing, and the sharing of ideas and opinions. Kids love an audience (I hear that everyday!) and teaches them to be thoughtful with their statements. People from all over the world connect to blogs and make comments so the students get hooked on checking their blogs. It also gives parents a view into their student's daily life at school. This was another convincing article about the importance of the use of blogs in the classroom. []

Washburn University The Review //Welcome to the classroom 2.0// September 16, 2009 By Kate Hampson

This article discussed how much things have changed within the classroom. Even pens and paper are disappearing as laptops and other technology are appearing. Advancements are happening so quickly that even college professors have a hard time keeping up. The overall theme of the article is that technology is our future, as teachers, and as students. We must keep up or our students will be left behind in an ever-changing world. There was no negativity, it was all about staying ahead of it all. []

My blogspot address: [|http://paulanachtwey.blogspot.com]

My 3 favorite websites are:

__[|www.allmyfaves.com]__ This website has a little something for everyone. Everything from Kid's games, news, blogging sites, web radio, and even the dictionary. This is a handy access tool to many of the most popular sites on the internet.

__[|www.readwritethink.org]__ This website was created for educators at all levels. It has 100's of lesson plans for teaching students how to read and write.

__[|www.aplusmath.com]__ This web site was developed to help students improve their math skills interactively. There are loads of games and lots of worksheets that you can print for a large variety of math lessons.

Math Differentiation Games: []

I have thoroughly enjoyed, and been inspired by, the thoughts of the people from this week’s reading assignment. I especially liked what the following people had to share:

not -- attendance, grade reporting, drill and practice, testing and some diagnostic and prescriptive cycles, even some sorts of presentation. Those functions can all be done as well or better by technology, freeing teachers to do what they say they like: face-to-face and one-on-one with children.”
 * __ Dale Mann __** : “The technology should do what the teachers should

My favorite part of teaching is making connections with children and helping them to develop a love for life-long learning, a desire they will need for the 21st century.


 * __ Donald A. Norman __** : “Now imagine a time when we transform education. When we can craft educational problems as cleverly as the game creators create theirs, allowing students to delve into the complexity of topics as deeply and as thoroughly as they delve into the games. Excite them to dive into the task, voluntarily working hard to learn the skills necessary to succeed. Only this time, the skills learned will be the ones necessary to be successful, well educated citizens of society: mathematics, history, writing, science, art, and so on.”

He also said: “It (technology) can motivate, it can make visible what is otherwise not, and it can allow for the study of the complex, taking care of the drudgery and allowing for concentration on the profound. It can be patient. It can give endless rewards and challenges. It continually engages the mind. And it provides a new, more rewarding role for the teacher as a guide, mentor, and fellow explorer of knowledge.”

We need game designers on our curriculum teams! J

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 * __ Sue Collins __** : "You can usually look at a group of students and their teacher and tell when the educational process is working. The atmosphere is just right -- and you know it."

I want to be the educator that keeps students engaged and motivated to learn at all times. This is quite the task, but is what I strive for each and every day. This is also a healthy learning environment where students feel comfortable and cared for.


 * __ Beverly Hunter __** : "Every person is a learner, a teacher, and a builder of knowledge." That vision has driven my work over the past 35 years. People of all ages and backgrounds can work and learn together to solve real problems important to them and their local or virtual community. Learning can take place in a context that values, respects and validates the person's world.”

We must strive to teach students to be independent thinkers and learners who care for one another and want to make a better world. In addition, I was amazed at the number of people who mentioned teachers as being mentors in the educational process of the future. I don’t recall even one of them saying that we would no longer be needed.