Teaching social studies would be more exciting if my students could use a blog for their assignments. As we approach the tenth anniversary of 9/11, my students could share their thoughts and information they would find online. Today I gave them a homework assignment: watch a few programs on t.v., write notes, and then compose an essay about 9/11. Since my seventh-graders were born beginning in 1998 or 1999, blogging would show the reality of what happened in 2001 (through videos and news articles).
Blogging would also make it possible for my students to update any new information they came across and post it on their blog. Our textbook was published in 2003 and I heard that this might be the last textbook adoption; instead, we will use other resources in following our curriculum. I think it's time for a change and moving away from textbooks is a step in the right direction. I use United Streaming and my students enjoy watching the videos. By blogging, they could access sources like the Portal of Texas, a seventh-grade website. There must come a time when change is unavoidable; especially when we rely so much on technology. I am still amazed at the amount of information (content) available online. In taking this class (Web Tools) I realize how limited our resources have been in the past. I plan on incorporating as much technology into my seventh-grade classses as allowable by "district policy". We need to make the most of what we have.
Your 911 blog activity is something that is of interest to the students. You can use the news video on the attacks to inspire them to write a blog about what they were doing when that happend or if they weren't born yet what their parents did that day and how it impacted the citizens liberties and rights. I'll bet that youtube has a ton of video from both sides of the world and varied opinions.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. i like that you are already exposing your class to technological advances through video, and streaming. It is important they they understand the technological side of learning... outside of the information provided in textbooks.
ReplyDeletei think it is imprtnat that you made the statement that we need to move away from textbooks. Although textbook are an invaluable reource in the classroom, they are by no means the only source of information available to our students. Since the internet can provide a wealth of knowledge, by allowing the students to clog about what they have learned can only help to increase their achievement and success in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas for the 9/11 project. I think it is so important that our students (who were very young in 2001) are asked to think about and reflect on what happened that day and how it will continue to affect our country and our world.
ReplyDeleteUsing a blog to complete assignments is a great idea. Many students nowadays view blogs as social networking. Therefore, completing homework through blogs becomes "socially acceptable" and not seen actual homework. Completing assignments now becomes fun and no longer a burden. For students academic blogging becomes as simple as updating a facebook profile
ReplyDeleteDistrict Policy: I started a blog two years ago after seeing it at a professional development conference. Then I realized that I was supposed to take a few steps with the district. I had to take it down, before getting all the paperwork finished. I plan to use a blog again, but I feel a little frustrated getting through all the red tape.
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting to watch history taking place. My third grade students weren't even born when 9/11 took place. Its sad to say that many of them weren't even aware of the event. I remember enjoying my history homework a lot more when it had watching TV as a must. I had my students write a poem about finding out what 9/11 was all about. They were pretty amazing. I cant imagine what they would have been able to create on a Blog.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea. Today I showed my students some tribute videos and news clips on youtube. Several students in each and every class raised their hands and asked me if I had seen the video that shows...... or the one with..... and asked if we could watch the one with....... etc etc.
ReplyDeleteThey youtube almost daily. If they could post videos, news clips etc on the blog they may be more inclined to read posts because it includes video.
As we mentioned in class, iGeneration loves visuals and creating visuals.
Oh! Oh! They could create their own tribute video that's factual!