Module+Eight+Reflection

Post a **//response to this prompt//** in your Wiki Journal OR **//reflect on your week as a technology user//** in the classroom OR **//describe a technology experience you had this week//** (use the reflection guide--//Description, Impact, Intent.)//

//1. Description. Make connections. What did you learn through reading the assigned reading and can you make a connection between your life and what you have read or learned. My experience with technology this week included creating a classroom blog on kidblog.org. Since I am just testing the waters, I decided to use the blog as a way for students to answer discussion questions about The Crucible (since we are currently reading it). I thought the blog could also give students an opportunity to respond to their peers’ posts. //

//2. Impact. How do you feel about what you learned? What do you now know or what can you now do that you didn't know or were not yet able to do before? How does this make you feel? Are you concerned about any of the things you observed or experienced? //

//This blog had a positive impact on my students. I began with having students introduce themselves on the blog so they could get used to the site. Then they were allowed to comment on each other’s blogs. Finally, they were to answer a question I posted about The Crucible. During the first day, I heard comments such as, “this is the best thing we’ve done all year,” and “this is fun, it’s like Facebook for school.” Students were completely enthralled. I had fun too because I was able to jump in and comment on some of the posts as well. A few days later, I was asked questions such as, “when are we going to blog again?” I felt very good about the feedback and saw firsthand how technology can be a motivator. I also was surprised at how many blog posts were thoughtful and thorough! //

//3. Intent. Based on your experiences, what will you do in the future to make use of your learnings. For example, will you, in some way, behave differently? Will you do further readings? Are there things you will observe more closely or in a different way? How will this impact your teaching or students. //

I plan on blogging a lot more in the classroom, depending on when I can schedule the computer lab! Typically, I will give students a writing prompt a few times per week in which they respond thoughtfully in writing. It would be so much more efficient if I could allow students to blog and discuss the prompt online. I will continue blogging and using it as a discussion tool. I will also take more time to stress good writing habits. I noticed that students were reverting to “text jargon” in their blogs, such as “I cudnt B-leev he did dat!” The neatest thing about trying out the blog was that another English teacher noticed it and began asking me questions all about it, how to set it up, etc. Maybe I should hold a department meeting and teach blogging!