One More Time

Here I am. Revisiting blogging for the fourth time. As a teacher of young students, I do try to bring in the latest and greatest ideas into the computer class. But, and it's a big but, I can't seem to love blogging or even like blogging. Back in the early 2000s when I first heard of it, I looked it up on the internet. I wasn't interested in connecting by writing with total strangers. I am thin-skinned and easily intimidated by others who are ready to pounce on any mistakes or opinions I may have on a topic. So I dropped it.

Then along came a principal to my building who received her doctorate in educational technology. She created a blog through November Learning where all teachers were required to blog about a professional development workshop or course we took. Out of the 60 or so teachers, everyone posted as required but only one teacher consistently made comments. After that principal left for greener pastures all was forgotten.

Enter round three. My third experience was with our new website at school. It allows for blogging on a teacher page but initially we were expressly forbidden to use it as we did not have an AUP (acceptable use policy) in place nor did my administrators know how to handle one until two years ago. A fifth grade teacher was allowed to use it and report on it. She found she had no way to make the students accountable as parents would object to their students using a home computer/device. Since we don't have enough lab time available for her to have the students blog, it lost its momentum.

Round four. Take a course and maybe I'll learn the value of blogging and how to introduce it into a classroom. Since I have six fifth grades to teach I elected to only use one class and start small. I have two very enthusiastic teachers who co-teach this class and love to try new things. We will use either science or social studies as the main topic and when we have the final lesson put together, I shall blog about it further. For now, we will begin teaching the students about blogging through a webquest from QuestGarden entitled, "Blogging: It's Elementary." My fingers are crossed.