Blogs can be a very effective teaching tool, especially with middle and high school students. Kids communicate mainly through technology these days, and while personal communications is always best, we as teachers must find ways to reach out to students, and we can by using technology to our advantage.
Some of my teachers in high school would add their students on Facebook, and if they had any school-related announcements, such as test dates, they would just post it on there. I wouldn't use my personal Facebook profile in that manner because I don't think that's professional, and it's important to keep your personal and professional life separate. However, a class blog would be a great way to communicate with your students and give them web 2.0 tools to learn.
I plan on having a class blog for my students. I would have the syllabus and schedule on there. I would give them study tips and other websites that would be beneficial for their learning. I would also do "On This Day in History..." posts. I think it's cool to learn about what happened every day in history. One of my history teachers in high school used to write down famous people's birthdays on the board, and that's something else I could incorporate into the blog. I plan on using PowerPoint in my lectures, so if they miss class or didn't catch something on the slide, I could post them on there so they would have them at hand. Also, kids might feel more comfortable asking questions online than in the classroom, so if they ever need my help after the school day, this blog would be a great way to reach me.
Just writing this makes me more excited to be a teacher! I cannot wait to be a teacher and to have my own blog and teach my favorite subject all day!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thing #2
Blogs are a lot of fun! I love reading about other people's thoughts, opinions, and experiences. I've had a few blogs that I created, but I never kept up with. I do have a Tumblr blog, and I use that just about every day, but I usually repost things rather than write them.
My posting and blog names are pretty simple. As a future teacher, that is important because you must always maintain professionalism, albeit in Wal-Mart or on the web. And because my names are straightforward, the readers will know exactly who I am and what my blog is about, so there is no confusion.
Overall, creating the blog was pretty easy. I had a hard time figuring out how to put the avatar on here, but other than that, it was pretty smooth. Blogger is one of the easiest blogs to navigate and use, so it has been easy learning my way around the site.
My avatar looks nothing like me. The eyes and hair aren't the right color, and it doesn't really look as Asian as I do, so there's really no resemblance. I did make myself more tan that I am, though! :) My avatar has a Starbucks cup because I LOVE coffee, and I have learned in college that coffee really does help me get through the day!
My posting and blog names are pretty simple. As a future teacher, that is important because you must always maintain professionalism, albeit in Wal-Mart or on the web. And because my names are straightforward, the readers will know exactly who I am and what my blog is about, so there is no confusion.
Overall, creating the blog was pretty easy. I had a hard time figuring out how to put the avatar on here, but other than that, it was pretty smooth. Blogger is one of the easiest blogs to navigate and use, so it has been easy learning my way around the site.
My avatar looks nothing like me. The eyes and hair aren't the right color, and it doesn't really look as Asian as I do, so there's really no resemblance. I did make myself more tan that I am, though! :) My avatar has a Starbucks cup because I LOVE coffee, and I have learned in college that coffee really does help me get through the day!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thing #1
I believe that it's important to never stop learning. High school and college may end, but the possibilities for learning and education are endless, and we should never cap ourselves off to learning. Not only will it make life more rewarding and interesting, but it will help one become more well-rounded and allow for personal growth.
In the list of the "7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners," the very first one is the hardest for me. I do set up goals for myself, but I often get discouraged or lazy and I abandon them not long after I start (one of my New Year's resolutions is to maintain my goals, so let's see how that works out :) ). I do have many goals for learning. My grandma is from Vietnam, and I've always wanted to learn the language. I would also like to (eventually) get my Ph.D in history and become a professor. I have these goals in mind, but the problem is if I have the stamina and the will power to see them through.
The easiest for me is probably #6, "Using technology to your advantage." My family has had a computer since I was about three, and ever since then, I've been hooked on it. Computer games such as Putt-Putt and Freddie Fish helped me with my counting skills and learning my colors. Barney and other children's TV shows helped me learn my ABC's and reading. To this day, I still use technology to expand my knowledge. If I have never heard of somebody or if I am not informed on a particular subject, the Internet is the first place I go. I have a strong hunger for knowledge and I hate not knowing things, so I do believe that those qualities will help me be a lifelong learner, and technology, when used properly, can be a helpful tool.
One should always have a zest for life, and a key to that is to never stop learning. As a lifelong student, one could learn more about themselves and the world than they ever did in school.
In the list of the "7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners," the very first one is the hardest for me. I do set up goals for myself, but I often get discouraged or lazy and I abandon them not long after I start (one of my New Year's resolutions is to maintain my goals, so let's see how that works out :) ). I do have many goals for learning. My grandma is from Vietnam, and I've always wanted to learn the language. I would also like to (eventually) get my Ph.D in history and become a professor. I have these goals in mind, but the problem is if I have the stamina and the will power to see them through.
The easiest for me is probably #6, "Using technology to your advantage." My family has had a computer since I was about three, and ever since then, I've been hooked on it. Computer games such as Putt-Putt and Freddie Fish helped me with my counting skills and learning my colors. Barney and other children's TV shows helped me learn my ABC's and reading. To this day, I still use technology to expand my knowledge. If I have never heard of somebody or if I am not informed on a particular subject, the Internet is the first place I go. I have a strong hunger for knowledge and I hate not knowing things, so I do believe that those qualities will help me be a lifelong learner, and technology, when used properly, can be a helpful tool.
One should always have a zest for life, and a key to that is to never stop learning. As a lifelong student, one could learn more about themselves and the world than they ever did in school.
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