Sunday, April 20, 2008
Question of Quality
So, I'd like to think that I post good comments on this blog. Part of my brain is thinking about how useful it is to have a network of future educators sharing ideas with one another and giving ideas for the future but while I'm posting I can't help but think, "I'd better fill my quota of two posts for the week". I'm not really saying that I would post a whole lot if I didn't have the requirement hanging over my head but would you? Would your students? Honestly I don't know if I'm the only one that feels this way. I normally like to share my ideas but I really don't post with that in mind. I post because I have to. So here is my question. Is it possible to have a blog like this and encourage honest and deep conversation without stringent requirements, or do students need the motivation to post anything at all? I really would like to hear your thoughts on this.
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4 comments:
No, I honestly don't think you would get quality posts from your students. Just like some of the posts on here are not "quality."
I heard a rumor that it might be a requirement to blog during student teaching next semester. Do I want to? No.
Would I like the option if I had questions or concerns? Yes.
But I certainly don't think that student teaching should be a mandatory assignment like blogging just to blog. It should be at-will.
I think this blog has a purpose. It is a means for assessment. If you did the reading, Dr. Franklin has an assessment tool when you post. By us commenting on this blog, Dr. Franklin gets to see how useful we find the readings/books, and again, if you really read the assignments.
~Stan
If this blog that we did this semester was an option I know I would not comment nearly as much or even look at it. It's not because I don't think discussing and talking with fellow future educators is not important it is just that it takes time that I don't always have. With the readings some are more important to me then others so the ones that are so important I give crappier responses because I have to respond to something.
I don't think it would be much different for high schoolers. As much as we would like to think our classes are so interesting that students would want to discuss them outside of class time I don't think that is a reasonable idea. Students want to spend there time on other things. I will say that if a blog is something that was used in class to get students to know each other better maybe a teacher could post topic questions that would get the students interest and maybe that could be used in class discussions.
I certainly agree with you. Do you think that if we assign students a blog and tell them a minimum to post, will they do it to fulfill the requirement or to really get information from the blog. I think it is great to read what everyone has to say and comment on others thoughts, but it is because this information will help us with our profession. I think students would just blog to meet the requirements...that still happens in this class! I don't mind blogging, but i personally will never incorporate it into my classroom. I think journaling is much more effective for high shcool students. Plus, we have to keep in mind that many students dont have the technology or access require to blog. We have Meyer library or the wonderful Pummill computer lab...but students may not. There are so many things to keep in mind when thinking about our diverse students!
I think I may not contribute to this blog every week if there wasn't an assignment attached, but I think I would still check it occasionally. I'm actually part of a Missouri State blog called "Students of the Academy" that focuses on education issues. (Our participation is pretty scant at the moment, but I think it will pick up soon.) What I like about that blog is that no one is posting to fill space - we just blog when we feel like it and abstain when we don't. Then I don't have to read entry after entry before I find someone who really has something to say.
studentsoftheacademy.blogspot.com
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