Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Using Blogs in the Classroom
I teach high school math (grades 9-12) in Greenwood, SC. I have never used blogs in my classroom. However, I can see many ways that they could be useful. I hope to begin using a blog during the new semester since I will begin with new students. I think the initial purpose of my blog will be a place to basically "extend" the classroom. I will post entries that reflect on lessons and explain more difficult concepts. I will post links to sites that students can use to help them with homework as well as links to any powerpoints that were used so that students can print their notes if they miss class. I will also post about student achievements in my classroom. As I become more comfortable with using a blog, I hope to extend the purpose of the blog to have students discuss about topics learned in class. Students sometimes have trouble writing about math, but I believe that when they can explain what they are doing in words, they better understand what they are doing. By having students explain concepts and discuss concepts through a blog, I believe that they will gain a deeper understanding of the material.
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Maybe they can use the blog for math peer tutoring.
ReplyDeleteSally, I love your ideas. I was one of those students who had troubles writing about math so I think blogging about subjects like math is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering though, would you have the students blog strictly in the classroom or would you extend this to outside of the classroom as well? In my school dictrict, there are many of my students who don't have a computer to use at home. I know many of these students would not go to a library or computer lab to complete assignments either. Do you feel this would cause conflict in your classroom? Would you provide those students "extra" blogging time at school to complete the assignments?
Great ideas Sally!
I like how you want to extend the classroom and explain more difficult classroom. I thing I think will be hard to do is able to help all the students. Some student, like myself, can better understand from seeing visual representation instead of an explanation in words. I am also a math teacher, do you know of any programs that can be used to allow a teacher the write out visual representation of problem?
ReplyDeleteRick Orr
I was considering the same idea. I use journals in class, but students have a hard time explaining math. Using a blog, they may be forced to explain, instead of trying to type in symbols. I teach high school math in Georgetown, SC. The problem that I face is that not all of my students have internet access at home. Do you see this as a problem in your area?
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow math teacher I like were this is going. The concern I have is,what is going to happen if a student does not feel they can express their meaning in words and wants to show the work they did to help support their idea? Is there a program that will allow the students and or teacher to use mathematical sybols to portray what they are trying to say?
ReplyDeleteHi Sally, on what subject are you planning to use blog? I teach math and I am still in the process of collecting data on how to use in that subject. Of course posting information on the blog is a good idea, however an interaction between student-teacher-students will be more effective and the students will be more involved.
ReplyDeleteHi Sally, on what subject are you planning to use blog? I teach math and I am still in the process of collecting data on how to use in that subject. Of course posting information on the blog is a good idea, however an interaction between student-teacher-students will be more effective and the students will be more involved.
ReplyDelete