Through out the last two weeks I have been learning more about the ways that internet and technology interact with students in the classroom. One such way that I have spend the past week looking at is this blog. I am currently a 6th, 7th, and 8th grade learning support teacher. I teach a 6th grade math class, a 7th grade math class and a 7th grade grammar class.
As a teacher I think that interaction between various students is very important. Therefore as a learning support teacher with smaller class sizes; sometimes 5 kids in the room other times 1, I need a way for my students to interact with others their age. With the use of a blog my students can work with others in their school as well as with people all over the world. Throughout my graduate class I have had the opportunity to watch some great videos about technologies influence on society and vise versa. Dr. Thornburg in the video "Technologies Influence" states that we need to create technology in the classroom and be ever changing because "society effects technology in the way that we create things as we have needs" (Laurette, 2010). If society is always changing we must always be changing as well to meet the needs of our students.
This blog would be a way for my smaller classes to interact with other students learning the same thing. While my student that is one on one needs to be because of behavior issues, he would still be able to interact with others and not be effected by his behavior. I also feel that the students need to work with other that are learning the same things but maybe on a different level. I have often found that students work best when they are being taught by other students. This can be done through working with other grade level math classes or with the same level class within my building.
Through the use of a blog the students will be able to interact better with each other while focusing on the content and learning other valuable skills. Through using the internet and the computer, students will be able to learn more about typing and navigating the world wide web. This is something that they will be using on a daily basis as we progress further into technology. Students will also be able to interact with the curriculum from anywhere at anytime. With today's technology students are able to access the internet from their phones and from home. With this kind of technology students will greatly benefit from the use of mobile technology (Laurette, 2010).
One of the most important components of using web blogs is the features that allow students to communicate with each other. It gives students an opportunity to compare their thoughts and ideas with their peers. This is a good way for students to evaluate whether they are on the same thinking track as their peers in another words blogs can be use a self assessment tool. Students are also able to use blogs to share new ideas with others which helps to create a stimulating learning environment. Blogs provide students with a new learning experience because it allow students to grow academically and it also helps to build relationships in the learning community.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important part about this idea is just what you said "build relationships in the learning community". Students are just like adults in the fact that they feel more comfortable when they are in a community where they feel loved and welcomed. This is best done through them forming relationships and bonds with those around them. Through the blogging they are able to feel comfortable with making suggestions and with talking to peers. Thanks for you post.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your post I was really struck by the idea of having your one-on-one student use a blog to interact with other students. This is an amazing way of allowing him to work with other students without his behavior becoming a problem. This is definately a great way of using technology to do different things. Without the use of the internet and technology students like yours are limited on their peer interaction.
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