Starting to get things moving
Friday 25 January 2008 at 07:05 am. Used tags: blogging, classroom, podcasting, sandaig
A while ago I was moaning about not managing to get the kids blogging, this sessions class are a very different bunch than last years and I've been struggling to get them posting to the blog regularly enough to get familiar with the tools.
The answer turns our to be, same as last session, to get the children to organise the rota, two children organise the random selection of a couple of others to choose what to blog about, take photos, and blog the next day (I download the photos before school).
Radio Sandaig has also been less than regular in its output. I've been trying to organise it by getting children from 4 classes to write and record segments, as teachers and children are busier than ever, it is getting harder and harder to find the time. Last session I was out of class teaching ict across the school and could make some time, this session I am back in class and have been using my NCC time. It was not enough, especially as the children had to write in their own time at home. This month I think I've solved the problem, on Thursdays I am having a Radio Sandaig Working Lunch this involves opening our media room up and letting the children write. We probably now have too much material. Interestingly this session I have more children wanting to write about outside school activities, mostly TV and movie reviews, than class work, I guess this is because they feel more ownership of their segments.Next session I think I'll take the podcast back inside my own class and develop it as a talking, listening and reflection tool as part of our language and pse program.
So despite a few frustrations (mostly with tools I'd love to use being unavailable for technical reasons or filtered out) I am feeling pretty positive about using 'social media' and online tools. I've also got a nice new project to unveil soon and a couple of interesting ideas (well interesting to me anyway) to blog about, more frequent posting ahead.
five comments
John,
I’m a graduate student in the U.S. and I’m working on my Masters paper: “How are teachers using blogs in education?”
I would love to send you a brief questionnaire, if you have time to answer it.
If you’re interested please email me at:
aspen_easterling@yahoo.com
Aspen (Email) - 25-01-’08 16:51The unveiling of your new project sounds very exciting. I can’t wait to ‘borrow’ more of your good ideas! It’s nice to hear a teacher speaking honestly about the highs and lows of teaching ICT in the classroom. Time and the reliability of the hardware are crucial factors. As teachers we are constantly chasing our tails. My own class are in the very early days of keeping a blog, so the motivation is in tune with the novelty factor of it. I suppose we might have a more realistic picture of things a year down the line.
Athole (URL) - 25-01-’08 17:19Aspen, I’ve sent a mail
Athole, I don’t think the novelty factor wears off kids much. You are spot on about reliability and time. More of both needed
John (Email) (URL) - 26-01-’08 13:22Where is your class blog?
Hi John
Mrs Campbell-Morgan (Email) (URL) - 01-02-’08 21:50I agree that it doesn’t get any easier. I have the opposite problem. This year I am only teaching 0.3 in my class and don’t feel that I can get enough time with them.
I work with a group of p7s once a week to make monthly radio podcasts but it does take a long time to allow for quality experiences.
It still seems to feel worthwhile though.
Mrs Campbell-Morgan, Interesting the difference between being class committed and not. Last session I was out of class in the am teaching ICT around the school. had bloggers from different classes coming at admin and spelling time 9-9:30 worked well, but probably annoyed other staff. I am still finding it hard to keep the podcast going in Lunchtimes with a large range of children popping in and out.
John (Email) (URL) - 03-02-’08 10:34