I think that blogging should continue next year and that students should have the opportunity to blog more freely at times. This year we were occasionally given the option to choose a prompt. I think it would also be nice to occasionally blog prompt-free as my chemistry class does. This allows the blog to become more personal and show a new side of the blogger.
However, one of my favorite prompts is the "Blogging Around" prompt. I think that, although it is great to write blogs, it's also wonderful to read what other people have to offer. In English it is interesting to read about the views of my peers on English-related topics. In chemistry I am able to read about an array of different things that my classmates have to share.
I think that what can be most improved about this blogging experience is integrating it into class a bit more. It would be nice if we could discuss our blogs in class or have our ideas recognized when they correlate with what we're doing in class. This has occurred several times this year and I think it's been beneficial. For example, I know that in one of my blogs I pleaded for a collaborative assessment after we finished one of our books. It was extremely rewarding that this actually happened and that maybe my blog influenced this. Even if our ideas and opinions are not used, I think it would still be nice to have some sort of recognition.
One way that the above could be accomplished is if the teacher whose class we write blogs for commented on them. I know there are a lot of blogs for a lot of students but if every once in a while I received some feedback I would feel more validation for this experience. Until recently I didn't really feel like anyone willingly read my blog and that was rather discouraging.
Overall, however, I think blogging has been very successful. Mr. Allen has often mentioned that the blogs have helped him get to know us in a unique, efficient way. In chemistry, they serve as a way to connect us and build our class community. I hope that as classes continue to blog they begin to integrate the blogs into class curriculum and thus use blogs to their full potential.
2 comments:
Jamie,
You posted a lot of really good ideas. How interesting that your Chemistry class used blogs. I have to admit, though, it sounded like they really added to your learning experience. And all of your ideas sounded like they would help our Academy blogs a lot, too. I agree that it was sometimes discouraging that people didn't seem to care about reading others' blogs, but sometimes it was nice, too. Then you didn't have to edit as much because no one was listening anyway. It was just nice to pour out my thoughts. But really, Mr. Allen should definitely consider your ideas for next. I wish we had used them all.
Jamie- I really liked a lot of the comments you made about blogging. I completely agree that it would be beneficial to do "prompt-free" blogs, because they would really inspire more creativity.
I think it's great that your chemistry class really utilized your blogs. Our teacher asked us to make them, but we really have only had a few posts and never did any sort of follow up on them.
I also like your idea of getting feedback from our teachers on our blogs, although I know it would be difficult for one teacher to read about thirty blogs. Maybe they could read and comment on a few blogs per week, then gradually end up ready some of everyone's.
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