Game Plan Update

Information and resources have not been issue to date. Much of the information and resources on developing a classroom blog are available on the Internet or through monthly publications that discuss the positives of blogs and the role they are currently playing in our society. Finding a credible resource that discusses the positives a blog can bring would be a great source of information to show parents and students.

I do need to modify and adjust my proposal to our Superintendent to include a more descriptive explanation of how the blog will be monitored and maintained. There was some concern that I would be screening the content after the posts had already been submitted to the blog for viewing. However, in actuality students will submit the work to me and I will upload the documents to the blog for viewing. Having the students submit the documents to me before uploading it to the blog allows me to monitor and screen the content. Once these modifications are made to the proposal I will resubmit it to our Superintendent.

To my surprise many of my students have prior knowledge of blogs or have a blog the currently frequent or their family is responsible for. Developing my Game Plan I figured most students would have a very limited background of blogs, however many students have family blogs they maintain daily, weekly, or monthly. Also many teachers and administrators in our own district are unfamiliar with blogs and newer technology, making it more difficult to explain the uses and benefits this technology can have in a classroom. There seems to be a belief that a lot of this technology is only used for non -educational purposes. I am wondering if it is more important to educate our students on the importance of technology for the teachers and administrators? The students generally understand the concept, as technology greatly impacts their daily life. They need to be able to grasp the concept of technology use educationally but they have a general understanding of technology. However, some of my co-workers are so far behind the times and unresponsive to technology it often seems like a waste to try and educate them on the positives it may bring, It is like they see technology as being lazy. Whatever it may be, I hope students realize the benefit it can bring to their education and life.

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.