What purpose would the blog serve? Is it a place for students to interact about content? Is it a showcase for their work? How does using a blog enhance the lesson? Include your grade level, content area, and your rationale as to why a blog is a good tool for the instructional context.
So I am currently teaching two sections of 7th and 8th grade science. In all of my classes I have groups working on science fair projects. These projects are done outside of school and require groups to meet up and share ideas and document their findings together. They need to be in constant communication around any progression and results.
I think that this project is ideal for using blogs. The great part about blogs is that they encourage participation. Falling into the web 2.0 category multiple students can participate and contribute to the content being published on any particular strand. For the science fair I can see this being used as a common location and method to facilitate group communication around key topics of the science fair. Each major step of the science fair can have its own strand and all of the students can contribute when they perform research. Other students in the group can participate and ask questions about the next steps to take to make headway forward. At the end when it comes time to make the lab report all of the information is already categorized into each step of the scientific method. This will aide in the organization and creation of a good lab report. Some other benefits to this way of doing the science fair are; 1) The teacher can check in with the students and make comments helping the students to know where to go next, 2) students don't need to be in the same room or location or at the same time to participate and help the group 3) skills will be built for the future regarding how to use online resources to collaborate and turn out an end product.
I think Science Fair Blogging is a great set up for using the benefits of Web 2.0 and helps to do something different rather than doing the same thing only differently. I mean to say that the way students will "meet" is completely different. The skills needed to participate in blogs are very different and the students will learn brand new skills outside of regular group work in the class. Each student will feel accountable for their work rather than assuming their normal roles when getting together to work in groups. I anticipate seeing much more contribution from those students that generally are quiet. As a Teacher it will be must more clear cut when and how students participate in the science fair projects.
Let me know what you think?
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Chris,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea to try and implement. Some problems that you may run into are that students may not know how to create a blog or use one unless you show them how, and that can take some time and your school system may not allow you access blogs while in school. While some students would use blogging, others may favor using another social network, such as instant messaging, emailing, or facebook to communicate. However, the benefit to having them use a blog site to communicate is that, like you said, you as the teacher will be able to join in on their discussions and help/ answer any questions they may have. It sounds like it's worth a try!
Hi Chris,
ReplyDeleteGroup work through blogging is a great idea because you can track the participation of each group member. Do you know if all your students have access to the internet? Have you used blogs in your classroom before? I think it is important to inform and educate parents on the process and benefits of blogging before introducing this as a student assignment--maybe through an introduction letter to the science fair project, and requiring a parent signature to serve as acknowledgement and/or permission for the student to blog.
Chris, I also teach science. Using blog as a tool for science fair projects sounds like a very good idea. You can check blogs and easily the participation going on there. I can see that the government will be requiring some amount of technology in the future. Blogging can be a part of that.
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