Hi All, I am a big fan of bloggin…
Hi All,
I am a big fan of blogging as it has become a part of my classroom since early 2011. First, I started out using webs but found out that it wasn’t meeting my mandate and I never had enough space to set up content, graphics and videos. Soon after I started using wordpress and my blogging problems were immediately solved. Ever since, I have been using it as part of a blended approach where students are given the opportunity to meet, collaborate, interact and discuss class-related topics synchronously and asynchronously. Students are graded for participation so the blog is always active. I also ensure that I track the discussions and clarify misconceptions when necessary. I always make my presence felt in an attempt to make students know that I am around even though it’s a virtual environment. Students can also upload assignments and are provided with links to quizzes, database and other sources of information. So far it has been great fun and the students are happy for the change where they can now enter a classroom without walls at http://evertonwalker.literacystudiesja.info/.
So far wordpress is working well for me. It provides real flexibility and plugins that make the ideal Content Management System (CMS). It is easy to use and is built with social interaction in mind. As a result, students are able to have discussions in a form that they would usually have on other popular social networking sites. In addition, I am able to extend the classroom by embedding links to various social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
I have tried blogger before but it never satisfied by blogging need as it relates to using it as a classroom tool. It never gave me enough options to upload all the content I need to suffice all my classes. For regular discussions, it’s ok but I am looking for much more in a blog. In addition, it wasn’t that appealing and the students visited for a few weeks and eventually stopped. To me, it just never catered to their social interest. Or maybe I never explored it enough to learn some more about its features.
Everton
Posted in: Week 07: Blogs
Juliana 1:41 pm on October 17, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton,
Thank you very much for such a thorough analysis! I am glad that you shared your experiences with working with webs and other blog types.
You have said that you find you like using WordPress for blogging. Any changes that you can think of to make WordPress even more marketable? Also, anything you think WordPress could do better for your classroom applications?
Juliana.
Everton Walker 1:51 pm on October 17, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Juliana,
Well I would like to see it take on features similar to that of a LMS and include email service, built-in quizzes etc ; simply put, more tools for the teacher and students to work with.
Everton
Deb Kim 4:02 pm on October 17, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton,
I’ve also incorporated blogging into my classroom as I teach Math at Tech Immersion Program.
As you said, I like WordPress too. I think you mentioned it in another post of mine.
I agree with you that WordPress can be more marketable if it has features like quizzes and a submission box for assignments. Although I use WordPress for my lessons, my students still have to go to Moodle to submit their work and do quizzes/tests. If they are all built in WordPress, teachers don’t have to get training for both WordPress and Moodle, and students don’t move back and forth.
Deb
hall 3:58 pm on October 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Deb,
How was the students’ feedback when you incoporated blogging into your math class? I realized whenever I used blogging with my students they do not communicate as much as when they are in my face to face class.
Deb Giesbrecht 5:44 pm on October 21, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Deb,
How does blogging work in a Math class? It is great that you can get kids to use both applications – what does that look like?
kstooshnov 10:23 am on October 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton,
Thanks for the post, and gotta agree that WordPress works for educational blogging. Also wanted to check with your first line: “it has become a part of my classroom since early 2012.” Do you mean 2002, or are these experiences “- if, like a crab, you could go backwards” (Hamlet, II, ii, 204) – really posts from the future? Happy to hear more about them , either way 😉
Kyle
Everton Walker 1:03 pm on October 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Kyle,
Thank you. I mean 2011. It does facilitate educational blogging to a great extent. I am really enjoying its use and constantly seeking new plugins to improve its appearance and delivery capabilities.
Everton
hall 3:45 pm on October 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton,
Educational blogging is a very useful tool to engage students in online discussion. I worked wordpress and found that it is one blogging tool I have come across. Your blogging site should help to transform your students both computer skills and langauge. Well done in setting that site.
How do you find the shy students when they are engaged in online discussion?
Everton Walker 6:36 pm on October 18, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Conroy,
I realize that the shy students find the blogging space as their comfort zone. Even though they will not say much in f2f sessions, they tend to write a lot on the blog and critique what others have to say. Some were even trying to hide their identity until I told them not to do so.
Everton