In my eighth grade math class, many students will not ask me for help. They will sit in class and pretend that everything is alright, even if they do not understand a lesson. Perhaps these students do not want to be seen asking for help or simply have a lack of motivation. Regardless of the reason, I must find a way to help these students communicate their problems so that they can get the help they need. Weblogs seem like they would offer an engaging platform for me to provide help for my students and for them to help each other. With my students subscribing to their classmates’ weblogs, they will be able to offer help anytime, anywhere. Students that have unexpected questions about the homework can get help even if they are not in class. By limiting access of these blogs to just the class, students will be responsible for giving and receiving feedback through their weblogs, thus enhancing their depth of learning. I believe that by seeing the problems that all of their classmates are having, reading the responses, and offering responses of their own, my students will build an online community that will motivate them to take responsibility for their learning and build their 21st century skills.
Isn't it funny how students will sit in class and behave as if they understand the material when in truth they do not? I find the same problem with my high school students and at times it drives me crazy. From reading your post, I am getting the idea that all your students will have their own personal blog, is that correct? If that is the case, it sounds great, but how will you get them to buy into this?
ReplyDeleteI think it will begin very similar to the way that our class has introduced us to blogs. Perhaps the first week I will have them create a blog, introduce themselves, and subscribe to my blog and those of their classmates. The following week I may have them post a comment or question about a homework assignment and require that each student reply to at least 2 posts. I'm not sure if I will continue to require posts and replies. I suppose that will depend on how well the students catch on to the benefits of blogging. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
DeleteI think you should start off with your blog first, where you pose a question and have the student respond, to each other, having them all make a blog, seems rather cumbersome for some someone who is just starting out. How will you find the time to visit each blog, and answer questions?
DeleteI agree with you there, Ksatch, but the whole point of it would be to get help with their homework. Their personal blog would be something that they would use the whole school year, and possibly beyond. I wouldn't necessarily have to check each blog as long as the students' questions are being answered. Can you think of any alternatives that may work better?
DeleteI was that exact student that you're talking about. I was a TERRIBLE student in school (elementary, middle and high school). Not that I did well in any particular class, but I did really badly in math and I would never ask for help. I have no idea why. It wasn't until I was in college that I was willing to ask for help! In fact, when I started college and realized how many math classes I was going to have to take I almost changed my mind about going into education. I think I might have felt that if I asked for help someone would know just how bad I was at it and just how far behind I was.
ReplyDeleteNow as a teacher, I cringe when I see my students not understanding something and they are too "afraid" to tell me. I always tell them that they have to be honest with me because if they're not then they aren't letting me do my job. It brings me back immediately to how I felt as a young learner and become encouraged to whatever necessary to help them not feel that way even if it requires me to completely change the way I teach something so that I can address their needs. I think using a blog at your grade level is a great way to "think outside the box" in which all of your students will benefit from... even those who are afraid to admit that they didn't get it the first time around.
Melissa