Week+3+Readings

Here is where I will type my thoughts regarding this week's readings. ** This week I learned quite a bit about quality lessons, how to create one and how to teach one. I enjoyed making a book with the UDL Book Builder site. The lesson creator was a bit of a challenge especially because my computer apparently opened a huge virus that basically blocked every website that I went to so I was a little behind schedule on the lesson creating. The readings in the books were very interseting and applicable this week.
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The readings about blogging really spoke to me this week. In the book, __Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools__, Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. discuss various classroom application tools for learning such as blogs. I particulary liked this statement, "Because of this audience, students are motivated to learn how to write responsibly, accurately, clearly, and inoffensively. They are empowered as thinkers, communicators, and authors." I love how this statement really explains the benefits of blogging. Blogging really is the beginning stages of the writing process. Blogs allow students to speak openly by commenting, revising, correcting, and collaborating with others. There are so many benefits to this tool that so many teachers and administrators are unaware of. I am amazed at how some school districts have just embraced this concept/tool and run with it while others are so afraid of it. So many students are still writing in journals that could be utilizing a blog. Why not embrace the new technology? I'm not quite sure what the fear is. My district is so fearful of blogging. I just recently finished writing the new blogging policies and we are still not sure if we are going to let the teachers use a blog in their classroom. I just don't get it. We are finally letting some of our teachers (15 - a pilot group) use a blog page on their district crested website but it has been a huge ordeal to get this approved. My district is so locked down that it is almost impossible to make them see the educational benefits of these web 2.0 tools.

Slowly but surely change will come. I just think we are going to loose some good teachers in the meantime to other cutting edge districts. There are many other districts that are exploring these great tools because they believe that they can greatly enhance the learning experience.