I teach 8th grade math and believe I can use a blog to facilitate critical thinking and mathematical communication. My goal for using the blog in the classroom right now is to post a problem of the week to spark critical thinking and communication among my students. I will need to educate them how to properly respond on the internet and work on asking questions to help solve the problem instead of going straight to the answer. Working collaboratively on the internet is a new concept for my students and is very different then working in groups in the classroom.
I would also like to create a forum for each of my classes where they can ask for help with their homework when at home. Right now I am hoping to create a place where they can ask each other questions as well as myself when we are on the internet. In the future I am hoping to post notes from the classroom so they have them as a references.
I would like to explore further uses of the blogs and will be encouraging input from my students to help me develop a blog that will fit their needs. As my creativity is inspired I am sure that I will come up with more uses.
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Your problem of the week is a great idea. I think adding a Q and A similar to the one we use at Walden would be great. Some students may be afraid to ask or not sure what words to use and being able to read others is a great way for them all to learn.
ReplyDeleteI just love the idea of the 'problem of the week'. How will you keep away the non-serious postings on the account that are very distracting from the purpose of the activity?
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of introducing it in class to model how to have a discussion on line and to address the non-serious postings. I like the idea of adding Q and A. Thanks for the feedback as it really helps.
ReplyDeleteThe problem of the week idea is genious and I like that you will demonstrate how to do it as a lesson in class before setting them out on their own. My question is how will you deal with the know it all student that ruins the blog my posting the answer on the first night. Will your blog be moderated before postings are allowed up, if so it will definately take a lot of your time to facilitate.
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