A New Level of Functionality and Interactivity
9/22/2005 11:56:00 pmThe Chatbox I installed on the blogs has turned out to be a great tool! The "chat" is preserved for a short time allowing asynchronous conversations to take place. Here are a few that really struck a chord with me ....
The grade 10's had a test today. Many of them spontaneously started posting reflections (their word choice, not mine) about the test:
Wasabi
8:17 PM Sep 22, 2005 IP 66:94Were we supposed to post a reflection of the test? ._.
John D.
8:17 PM Sep 22, 2005 IP 161:170no, we're not. we just want to. ^__^
Some kids were still having trouble figuring out how to create a post in Blogger. In particular, the scribe for yesterday was having a hard time; Jojo tried to help ....
Question Mark (?)
7:32 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:147How do you make a blog. When I try to make a blog it says "sorry, this blog is not valid."
Jojo
7:43 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 66:94Question mark log into your blog account you can post up one when your signed in
Question Mark (?)
7:56 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:147I already signed-in. The error came up when it asked for the blog address.
Jojo
8:05 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 66:94Aftre signing in click Pre cal 20s under"Dashboard" on the top left of yoru screen. you will automaticaly be at editing posts. on the top left click
Jojo
8:05 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 66:94"create" and type in your message and your done. If that doesnt work I don't know what else to do.
Question Mark (?)
8:12 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:147It does not say pc20s on the dashboard
bananas
9:16 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:48did today's scribe post anything?
Question Mark (?)
9:58 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:147Today's scribe is ocuppied. He computer is being difficult.
Following this "chat" in the grade 11 chatbox Richard took the initiative to solve the problem for everyone:
Kasia
7:51 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 76:128How do you write the blog?
Richard C.
8:42 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:164Well you go to the dashboard. Then click on NEW POST under BLOGS. Then after you write stuff you click on PUBLISH POST to post on the blog.
This proved to be helpful to one of the AP Calculus students ... the younger student unaware he was teaching the older one:
ara
9:57 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 77:96hey how do i post a new one?
Mr. K.
11:32 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:98Ara?
Mr. K.
11:33 PM Sep 21, 2005 IP 161:98Read this post [link] from the Pre-Cal 30S blog -- it says it all. ;)
Aichelle caught a typo in a review sheet I handed out ....
Aichelle S.
3:50 PM Sep 20, 2005 IP 45:175****the answers on the review a) and b) are mixed up
They are actually using the links I post to help them!
janet
6:02 PM Sep 20, 2005 IP 66:94err.... does anyone know how many questions we should/have to do for that factoring thing assignment? lol
John D.
6:04 PM Sep 20, 2005 IP 161:48i don't know.. it only said just practice until you get it..
janet
6:05 PM Sep 20, 2005 IP 66:94hmm. nevermind, i guess we can just do as many as we like. :)
............
YO!
10:12 PM Sep 20, 2005 IP 66:94is 20 problems enough to do????i'm sleepy.....
The chatboxes have brought a whole new level of functionality and interactivity to the blogs. Tonight we had "Meet the Teacher Night." I met some of my student's parents, gave them the course outline with the blog urls for their children and encouraged them to get involved. Let's see where this goes ....
2 comments
Looks like an interesting idea. Have you had to police it much for inappropriate posts?
ReplyDeleteOnly once. Last week, the class scribe was having trouble figuring out how to create a post in Blogger. She posted her phone number in the chat box. I deleted it; sent her an email explaining why and reminded her to keep personal info off the blog.
ReplyDeleteShe understood. And we had a good class discussion about appropriate behaviour online -- they're also learning how to conduct themselves in their private blog spaces as a result of their experiences in my class.
When issues related to privacy come up I regard it as a learning opportunity. The kids are going to be online anyway. Making these sorts of mistakes here allows me to educate them about the risks so that these things don't recur.
Teachers teach a lot more than curricular content -- this technology facilitaes that kind of life long learning.
Sorry if I sound like I'm "preaching," I've got a passion for this topic. ;-)