Comments on: Jump a few challenges http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/ Experiencing blogging, using a smartboard and genealogy Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:34:58 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: azrunner http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-142 azrunner Thu, 22 May 2008 19:55:30 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-142 Hi! I've run into the same problem (so I hardly have an answer for you as yet) but I believe the largest issue I've run into is that many of the staff simply are totally unfamiliar with what a blog is. So for many it becomes one more thing they have to do in a day (when in reality it can take the same amount to send out an email). The other side of that is, for many, they have only heard the negative press about what happens on blogs and other social, 2.0, applications. Some will jump on things right away, while for most of the others not only do they need to be shown how to do it but why it's of value. I recently completed a project for which I had set up a blog for teachers at my school. For the duration of my project (4 months) one teacher responded on the blog. And his response was that he didn't feel comfortable using blogs. The others reported time issues. This despite the fact that I spent a meeting showing them how to post and sent several reminders with directions by email (including a link to the blog). I sometimes wonder if we don't almost have to almost "force" teachers to use some tools by making certain things available only by that source or making it a hub for other things they need. Theory being you create drive-by traffic more of it will stop (and comment). Of course, we could always bribe teachers for making comments also... Adam Hi!

I’ve run into the same problem (so I hardly have an answer for you as yet) but I believe the largest issue I’ve run into is that many of the staff simply are totally unfamiliar with what a blog is. So for many it becomes one more thing they have to do in a day (when in reality it can take the same amount to send out an email). The other side of that is, for many, they have only heard the negative press about what happens on blogs and other social, 2.0, applications. Some will jump on things right away, while for most of the others not only do they need to be shown how to do it but why it’s of value.

I recently completed a project for which I had set up a blog for teachers at my school. For the duration of my project (4 months) one teacher responded on the blog. And his response was that he didn’t feel comfortable using blogs. The others reported time issues. This despite the fact that I spent a meeting showing them how to post and sent several reminders with directions by email (including a link to the blog). I sometimes wonder if we don’t almost have to almost “force” teachers to use some tools by making certain things available only by that source or making it a hub for other things they need. Theory being you create drive-by traffic more of it will stop (and comment). Of course, we could always bribe teachers for making comments also…

Adam

]]> By: tamakitoday http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-129 tamakitoday Sun, 18 May 2008 08:16:51 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-129 I think that you've raised a fantastic point! Wow! We've only started our class blog within the last couple of months. Our students were enthused with it, but not totally, (we're from a low decile school, we've got nearly 100% Pacific Island/Maori students) and the visual aspects of the blog was important. We've focussed on doing short videos with our kids, which I hoped because they're 'you-tube' generation that would be more visual, and the staff would react postively too... its about changing attitudes too, building an auidence and making people see the worth. The only negative part of that for us is that I realised pretty early on as we'd be mainly video based that we'd have to go to blogger for our site (not edublog which I'd prefer)... anyway Im rambling a little but this is such a positive site and I really have enjoyed viewing the resources. Fantastic. Our Class Blog page is at tamakitoday.blogspot.com - keep up the great work. Myles Webb, Tamaki Intermediate School, Auckland, New Zelaand. I think that you’ve raised a fantastic point! Wow! We’ve only started our class blog within the last couple of months. Our students were enthused with it, but not totally, (we’re from a low decile school, we’ve got nearly 100% Pacific Island/Maori students) and the visual aspects of the blog was important. We’ve focussed on doing short videos with our kids, which I hoped because they’re ‘you-tube’ generation that would be more visual, and the staff would react postively too… its about changing attitudes too, building an auidence and making people see the worth. The only negative part of that for us is that I realised pretty early on as we’d be mainly video based that we’d have to go to blogger for our site (not edublog which I’d prefer)… anyway Im rambling a little but this is such a positive site and I really have enjoyed viewing the resources. Fantastic. Our Class Blog page is at
tamakitoday.blogspot.com – keep up the great work.
Myles Webb, Tamaki Intermediate School, Auckland, New Zelaand.

]]> By: class1m http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-128 class1m Sun, 18 May 2008 07:37:53 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-128 Hi Sue, I have a personal blog to share with friends and family back in the states. Many of them get on and read and view images but no one comments on the blog- instead they send me email feedback. I think they just don't know that commenting is an option. I plan to make a post that shows the steps to posting comments in an effort to encourage them to comment. It not only allows me to hear from them but they can make connections with each other through comments. It's that community that can be created that I get excited about- online conversations. I was also thinking about how to encourage teachers to set up blogs- I think they don't believe me when I tell them how easy it is. And some people have told me they had a good deal of fear about putting their words out there on the internet- that it is virtually published. I do plan to start a closed blog in August for a podcast teacher group I started this year. I have a few interested teachers and one with a class blog- up until last year I was a classroom teacher and had a blog for my class- I received emails from relatives who lived far away and appreciated being able to stay in touch by reading and seeing student work in the blog- but they emailed comments. Blog first, then commenting orientation for readers? Essentially- the feedback keeps us going and motivates continuation. Hi Sue, I have a personal blog to share with friends and family back in the states. Many of them get on and read and view images but no one comments on the blog- instead they send me email feedback. I think they just don’t know that commenting is an option. I plan to make a post that shows the steps to posting comments in an effort to encourage them to comment. It not only allows me to hear from them but they can make connections with each other through comments. It’s that community that can be created that I get excited about- online conversations.

I was also thinking about how to encourage teachers to set up blogs- I think they don’t believe me when I tell them how easy it is. And some people have told me they had a good deal of fear about putting their words out there on the internet- that it is virtually published. I do plan to start a closed blog in August for a podcast teacher group I started this year. I have a few interested teachers and one with a class blog- up until last year I was a classroom teacher and had a blog for my class- I received emails from relatives who lived far away and appreciated being able to stay in touch by reading and seeing student work in the blog- but they emailed comments. Blog first, then commenting orientation for readers? Essentially- the feedback keeps us going and motivates continuation.

]]> By: annieb3525 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-127 annieb3525 Fri, 16 May 2008 14:01:27 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-127 Thanks Sue for this post. I made me rethink what I am doing at my school re getting more teachers on board. I think the idea of asking teachers to comment on student blogs is a fantastic one and will expose them to the world of blogging without placing any expectations of writing their own. May I add a link to your blog to a professional development wiki that I maintain for teachers? Check it our here. http://teaching-with-technology.wikispaces.com/blogsineducation regards Anne. Thanks Sue for this post. I made me rethink what I am doing at my school re getting more teachers on board. I think the idea of asking teachers to comment on student blogs is a fantastic one and will expose them to the world of blogging without placing any expectations of writing their own. May I add a link to your blog to a professional development wiki that I maintain for teachers? Check it our here. http://teaching-with-technology.wikispaces.com/blogsineducation
regards Anne.

]]> By: Miss W. http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Miss W. Fri, 16 May 2008 08:09:06 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-126 @Michele - when I first started thinking about blogging with my students, the techie guys in our education department wanted me to use Sharepoint and I said that I wanted to extend the students world outside the bounds of the school. So eventually I got permission as long as I was moderating all comments and checking the posts. This I have done and the students are writing on each others blogs; we have students from various countries also commenting and teachers around the world from my Twitter network also commenting. Students parents and relatives are adding their bit to the comments. But it is the local teachers who I can't get to add their little bit. @Sarah - thanks for that but I think I am a bit chatty in the staffroom and would never be able to say "Read my blog to find out what is happening in my room"; I know I talk too much about what I am doing with Web 2.0 This might be what is putting some of them off. @Melissa - I think this comment challenge with the student participants has been great. My students who have their own blog have started conversations with other students around the world and now have their blog URL on the blogroll. The kids are loving all the comments from around the world, but I feel it is a pity that other local staff can't find that 10 or 15 minutes once a week or fortnight to make a comment. @Michele – when I first started thinking about blogging with my students, the techie guys in our education department wanted me to use Sharepoint and I said that I wanted to extend the students world outside the bounds of the school. So eventually I got permission as long as I was moderating all comments and checking the posts. This I have done and the students are writing on each others blogs; we have students from various countries also commenting and teachers around the world from my Twitter network also commenting. Students parents and relatives are adding their bit to the comments. But it is the local teachers who I can’t get to add their little bit.

@Sarah – thanks for that but I think I am a bit chatty in the staffroom and would never be able to say “Read my blog to find out what is happening in my room”; I know I talk too much about what I am doing with Web 2.0 This might be what is putting some of them off.

@Melissa – I think this comment challenge with the student participants has been great. My students who have their own blog have started conversations with other students around the world and now have their blog URL on the blogroll. The kids are loving all the comments from around the world, but I feel it is a pity that other local staff can’t find that 10 or 15 minutes once a week or fortnight to make a comment.

]]> By: Melissa Lynn Pomerantz http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Melissa Lynn Pomerantz Thu, 15 May 2008 15:51:16 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-125 I have recruited adults "blog readers" from the school and beyond. The students do not know their blog mentors and they are excited when someone besides me and my student teacher write back. Some of the recruited adults have poked around to other blogs and have commented on them as well. They have also given the link to friends, colleagues, and spouses who have jumped in every once in awhile. I would like a more organic readership, but this was a start. I have encouraged the students to put clustrmaps on their blogs so that they can see if others are visiting (even if they are not commenting). You could also pair up with another class (in town, out of town, across the world) and get an organized type of feedback. Good luck! I have recruited adults “blog readers” from the school and beyond. The students do not know their blog mentors and they are excited when someone besides me and my student teacher write back.

Some of the recruited adults have poked around to other blogs and have commented on them as well. They have also given the link to friends, colleagues, and spouses who have jumped in every once in awhile.

I would like a more organic readership, but this was a start.

I have encouraged the students to put clustrmaps on their blogs so that they can see if others are visiting (even if they are not commenting).

You could also pair up with another class (in town, out of town, across the world) and get an organized type of feedback.

Good luck!

]]> By: Sarah Stewart http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Sarah Stewart Thu, 15 May 2008 11:01:41 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-124 I am writing on my blog and passing the link to my colleagues so that they are 'forced' to read my blog at the evry least in order to hear my news. I am writing on my blog and passing the link to my colleagues so that they are ‘forced’ to read my blog at the evry least in order to hear my news.

]]> By: Michele Martin http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Michele Martin Thu, 15 May 2008 10:40:31 +0000 http://tasteach.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/jump-a-few-challenges/#comment-123 Is it possible to get people outside your school to comment on student blogs? Or are they on a closed network? I actually think that you might get more and better feedback if student blogs were more open to the wider world, especially if you have students also visiting and commenting on those other blogs. I worry that keeping it within a closed circle really doesn't expose students to new ideas or meaningful feedback. One of the joys of blogging is interacting with people are into your topic and that usually means other bloggers who share your interests, not necessarily other students or teachers. I understand, though, that it may not be possible. Is it possible to get people outside your school to comment on student blogs? Or are they on a closed network? I actually think that you might get more and better feedback if student blogs were more open to the wider world, especially if you have students also visiting and commenting on those other blogs. I worry that keeping it within a closed circle really doesn’t expose students to new ideas or meaningful feedback. One of the joys of blogging is interacting with people are into your topic and that usually means other bloggers who share your interests, not necessarily other students or teachers. I understand, though, that it may not be possible.

]]>