Blogging...

Honestly, yes, I feel that blogging is a waste of time. It wasn't around when I was in high school, and this is the first class I've ever encounterd it. I feel that taking up a whole class to set up accounts for a biology (the area I wish to teach) class or life science class would be a wasted lecture day. If someone has questions or comments about the class or lecture, they can do it the old fashon way... in person.. face-to-face. I can see how the might be of some use in a tele-course or internet based classroom. In that setting it would allow for more class interaction then just email alone. As I stated before, I feel that blogging is a waste of time in the typical classroom setting. I'll get back to this once I read CH 6

Ok... So after some more thought, I still think that blogging would be one of least affective ways to get information out there. A teacher created blog might be the least wasteful as far as time goes. External information could be placed on the blog, such as links to outside websites that might offer expansion on topics covered. Students could interact with eachother and with the teacher by leaving comments that would all have to go though the teacher first. This seems much more streamlined then having student created blogs. In this situation, students could post whatever they wanted and other students could post whatever they wanted in the form of comments and it could lead to some issues taking place outside the classroom, but the result of a teacher's instruction. I see that as trouble waiting to happen. On top of that, you as a teacher, would have to go into 150 diffent blogs to see what was on the student's minds. Also, as Amy stated, it all really comes down to participation as well. In a team, you are only as strong as your weakest player. If you have 15/150 students who use blogging as intended, well thats only 10%. Not a whole lot of feedback and it really would be a waste of that 10%'s time.

(An aside- so in the spring of this year, I took a chem class that was heavy on the integration of technology to assist in learning the material. There was no book, no handouts, not even physical notes. We all had thinkpads and our material was presented on the infoucus machine with you being able to write on your virtual notes and work in interconnected groups.. etc. It is great for those people who have problems with chemistry.. lots do. But for anyone who gets it, its just more crap to go wrong and it takes so much longer to cover material. What that meant for me is when I went to Chem II, I was underprepared. I should have learned things that I didn't because the internet was down, a laptop wasn't charged and we had to switch it out midclass, or the batteries to projector were low, the projector light went out.. etc etc etc... When the technology failed and the teacher had to teach with a board well, lets just say it didn't go so well. )

So, to sum up... I think the only way a blog would work would be to have you (the teacher) start one and everyone comes to you... not the other way around. This way, all content and participation can be monitored. Also, it would be more desirable to have this form of communication only if more convential ways are not possible (ie - online classes)