Should teachers blog??
I recently asked students I was substituting for how many of their teachers blogged, the answer was none. Followed rapidly by, what would they blog about? What is the point? What is in it for me?
I used the opportunity to show them my blog/website on the overhead and they were really impressed. I’m a teacher of business, economics, geography and maths and they felt that the information I had on my blog would be a great study aid for them. Lots of information they needed in one place. Isn’t that the point. Most asked if they could have access to my blog and I obliged Well that’s what it’s for… they were a Junior cert class all sitting the maths exam paper in a few weeks. My doubts were quickly eliminated.
I have a friend who blogs for her students too. Her feedback is equally positive, her students love it. The benefits go far beyond the students experience. As a blogger I find it very useful to archive my material, it allows me to process my material and ideas. I get feedback which is a very important evaluation and assessment tool for me and the work I produce, both negative and positive.
ICT is generally viewed in staffroom’s as a useful tool but it often stops at the use of power point and email. Following a conversation a comment that stands out is ‘will all this ICT help them get 600 points’? Teachers are under pressure, I acknowledge and recognise this, but is this the right attitude. Did we go into the profession to enable our students to achieve 600 points? I doubt it, but I can see why and how the transition is made from a holistic approach to education into the rat race for points. I suggest that the students achieving at this level are not the students who will benefit most from a teacher embracing the use of a blog for their students. Try to remember the 90% of your students who are divided into the other learning groups. The visual learners, the student with special needs (who uses a laptop or ipad), Students who are dyslexic or who have language delay. Students who cant keep up in class but who could go home and access the material with the support of a parent or sibling.
I can confirm that a website is really easy to set up with lots of tutorials available on you-tube etc. I’ve included one below.
I have no doubt that my students benefit from my blog and that I learn to teach at a higher level as a result of student/peer feedback.
I’ve included some interesting links below for your information and the YouTube clip I mentioned above.
http://edudemic.com/2013/01/how-and-why-teachers-should-blog
Below is a prezi presentation by a teacher who blogs.
http://prezi.com/fvspygmjnhov/why-should-teachers-blog
I recently asked students I was substituting for how many of their teachers blogged, the answer was none. Followed rapidly by, what would they blog about? What is the point? What is in it for me?
I used the opportunity to show them my blog/website on the overhead and they were really impressed. I’m a teacher of business, economics, geography and maths and they felt that the information I had on my blog would be a great study aid for them. Lots of information they needed in one place. Isn’t that the point. Most asked if they could have access to my blog and I obliged Well that’s what it’s for… they were a Junior cert class all sitting the maths exam paper in a few weeks. My doubts were quickly eliminated.
I have a friend who blogs for her students too. Her feedback is equally positive, her students love it. The benefits go far beyond the students experience. As a blogger I find it very useful to archive my material, it allows me to process my material and ideas. I get feedback which is a very important evaluation and assessment tool for me and the work I produce, both negative and positive.
ICT is generally viewed in staffroom’s as a useful tool but it often stops at the use of power point and email. Following a conversation a comment that stands out is ‘will all this ICT help them get 600 points’? Teachers are under pressure, I acknowledge and recognise this, but is this the right attitude. Did we go into the profession to enable our students to achieve 600 points? I doubt it, but I can see why and how the transition is made from a holistic approach to education into the rat race for points. I suggest that the students achieving at this level are not the students who will benefit most from a teacher embracing the use of a blog for their students. Try to remember the 90% of your students who are divided into the other learning groups. The visual learners, the student with special needs (who uses a laptop or ipad), Students who are dyslexic or who have language delay. Students who cant keep up in class but who could go home and access the material with the support of a parent or sibling.
I can confirm that a website is really easy to set up with lots of tutorials available on you-tube etc. I’ve included one below.
I have no doubt that my students benefit from my blog and that I learn to teach at a higher level as a result of student/peer feedback.
I’ve included some interesting links below for your information and the YouTube clip I mentioned above.
http://edudemic.com/2013/01/how-and-why-teachers-should-blog
Below is a prezi presentation by a teacher who blogs.
http://prezi.com/fvspygmjnhov/why-should-teachers-blog