My Purpose

My name is Thomas Towne. I teach 6th 7th and 8th grade Computer literacy and Technology Integration. The purpose of my blog is to allow my students to share their work, ideas and resources in a technology inspired and convenient medium. This would be the perfect arena for my web design and animation class to share their work and ideas not only within the school, but to global community as well. I also hope to enlighten and expand the knowledge of my colleagues by allowing them to collaborate over the internet on integrating technology into the classroom. This would be a particularly useful tool in my school since it is so large. In my department alone, we can go weeks with out seeing each other.

My School consists of 130 faculty/staff with approximately 1,400 students in grades 6-8th. I here my co-workers on a daily basis, commenting on how they don’t have enough time share ideas among their colleagues. This would allow them to share their thoughts at their own convenience. Even from their home. There are many other benefits that blogs can bring to a classroom including The use of hyperlinks will help students to better understand the relational, inter-connectivity of knowledge. Promoting interactivity potentially increasing relationships with classmates and teachers. Students have the opportunity to become subject matter “experts” in their blogs Increased feelings of ownership of knowledge and learning Realistic, authentic ways to participate in learning. (Kelly, 2009) Using Blogs in the classroom can improve on student writing, mechanics, spelling and grammar. As Cathy Martin explains in this weeks resource, "students don't know how to respond or write appropriately to a public audience." Martin (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010)  Today's youth are experts in texting and Instant messaging, which are typically done in their own language. Providing opportunities for more diverse perspectives. Benefits that blogging can bring to the learning process are immense however; a teacher must be sure to be prepared for challenges of this new technology. (Kelly, 2009)

References

     Kelly, K. (2009, March 31). To blog or not to blog (in the classroom). Retrieved from http://edublognology.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/to-blog-or-not-to-blog-in-the-classroom/

     Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Spotlight on Technology: Blogging in the Classroom [DVD]. Baltimore: Author.