SUMMARY
Is an article used to explain a foreign teacher’s approach to using blogs as an educational tool. The Article is written in a typical blog format to highlight the personal nature and experiences that a blog would normally cover. The Article depicts the pros of technology in the middle school classroom and the useful nature of cell phones and blogs. Especially, in regard with student travel abroad. These blogs also serve as a students chance to improve writing and use the writing process before final publication, and to also use it as an online portfolio to showcase work and track improvements. The Article also explores finding a writing voice in a second language.
Key Words: Middle Grades Education, Technology, Blogs, Writing in a second language, Writing process, Second Language Learners.
As an American Millennial, technology is an intricate part of my everyday life. Naturally, that transfers to my classroom. My students love to joke with me on my love and over use of Prezi, an online platform for presentations, in my classroom. This year, I started to use a new tool that turned out to be very rewarding for my students and I: Blogs.
One of the biggest hurdles I and many others face in the classroom is the fine line of technology, but more specifically, the cell phone. Almost all of my students have a cell phone and use it often, for good and bad. I often find myself in a love-hate relationship with phones. They can be excellent tools for the students as it gives them access to instant information at their fingertips, it keeps them in touch with their friends and family, and allows them to use various forms of social media to stay informed and updated. The latter is the most dangerous for pre-teens.
This year a huge focus of our curriculum has been on Media and it’s power and influence. I try instilling responsibility to my students and show them the importance of social media safety and that regardless of what someone may find funny or harmless, posting against someone’s will can be a harmful and dangerous thing. Thankfully Cyber bullying is not something our school struggles with as so many other middle schools do.
Gimnasio el Hontanar, the amazing bilingual school I have the pleasure of working at, sends some of our sixth grade students to Canada each year as part of a foreign exchange program. The Students are gone for one month, living with host families, and going to school as Canadian students do. In past years, the students are required to keep a journal of their experiences, emotions, and schoolwork. This year I wanted to take advantage of technology.
Many of my students would be going on this life-altering journey to a new country and culture, but what about my students here? I wanted them to be included in this journey too. Thirty-one out of sixty-eight students would be leaving for a month. When it came time to assign the annual project for our Canada bound students, I was brought back to my own love of technology. I thought it would be an amazing experience to live not only through their words, but through their eyes and ears using pictures and videos.
I created password-protected blogs using Google’s blogger.com. The students all used their own Google credentials to login and post weekly on their trials and tribulations of a new culture. Google apps work seamlessly with Apple or Android phones and would give them the opportunity to put their cell phones to good use while they were away. Our students were spread out over many cities in the Calgary Area.
The blogs gave all students, at home and away, a chance to read, catch up, and comment on their friend’s experiences and happenings. It also became a valuable tool to gauge their language improvements while abroad. As a teacher it became a wonderful tool, as I was able to comment on their posts to give them advice on a problem, answer questions, or provide helpful suggestions. Well, as many suggestions and insights a southern girl from Georgia could provide to my Canadian living students. It was instant access to their experiences and writing. It became an invaluable tool to gauging their improvements and weakness in writing.
When my students returned they were beyond excited to share their experiences with anyone who would listen as well as show off their blogs. I found many of my low performing writers, before the trip, to be a fountain of information on their blogs. I had a student who spoke very well before the trip, but struggled with the constraints of writing. He always found it difficult to express himself with that medium. While away in Canada his blogs were informed of many details and photos of his experience, but most importantly through his blog he was able to find his writing voice.
Blogs: The American Millennial Approach to Classroom Technology
By Emily Mimbs
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