Journal 1: "Do Web 2.0 Right" NETS-I, III, VI

Light, Daniel. (2011). Do web 2.0 right. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Feature_Article_Do_Web_2_0_Right.aspx

Summary:

       Online journaling by means of blogs and wikis helps students develop their writing skills while they participate in the learning experience. A study found wikis and blogs were more beneficial to students when used more frequently. A blog focuses on an individual author’s perspective. A wiki focuses on the final product and is a collaboration of individuals’ findings. Many teachers found blogs to be a more beneficial learning tool than wikis. There are two types of blogs: Individual and classroom.

       Individual blogs give students a place to write their thoughts without having to answer a formal writing prompt. The problem with individual blogs is that many students are unmotivated to write them for various reasons. These reasons could be that students are self-conscious about their peers reading their work or they don’t feel like they have anything important to say.

Classroom blogs are a place where students can comment or respond to a formal topic posted by the teacher. Students can also see each other’s comments.

Q1. As a high school math teacher, how can I use blogs to supplement my lessons?

A2. Classroom blogs would be my best option. I can start by posting an equation or a word problem that is more advanced than what we are currently covering in class. I can then ask the students to try their best to solve the problem. Students can use their peers’ attempts to solve the equation as a starting point. Maybe the first student didn’t get the answer correct, but he or she is at least heading in the right direction. Then, the next student can see what the previous student did and make corrections to it.

Q2. Maybe a resolution to students being self-conscious about their posts is to allow all posts to be anonymous. What problems would arise if all posts were anonymous?

A2. If all posts become anonymous, then students might lose all their inhibitions. Posts might become inappropriate and offensive. Students would be able post entries with no consequences. However, it would be ideal if posts were semi-anonymous. So other students would not know who posted the entries, but the teacher could find out who was responsible for a post, if he or she needed to.