Blogger+(Element+1)



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Blogger is a website for people posting news about themselves or other events. It is not generally used for education, but with slight adjustments it can be used in the classroom.

I really loved the idea of blogger. I actually incorporated this into a Unit Plan I made for another course. My idea was to have literature circles throughout the classroom. Everyday a new notetaker would be chosen in a rotation. They would be expected to take notes on the discussion and then each day post a blog for each literature circle. I thought it would be a great way to assess how much discussion went into the group and see what kind of thought process they were having. As a teacher I would be bouncing around as it was, but I might really miss a great point by a student or group. I thought the use of blogger would really be great. This is also a good way to gage student writing in an informal setting. Some of the best lesson on grammar can be taught this way.

With the discussion option in the blogger students can work collaboratively to make their notes stronger (Standard 2 of NETS-S). Students are also required to think critically about their discussions and what should be posted in the blogger (Standard 4). They will be using technology in a manner that forces them to understand systems (Standard 6).

I really see myself using Blogger in the classroom for years to come.

For special needs students: When the notetaker landed on the special needs students in the class depending on their disability I would help them. If they simply have a learning disability I would likely edit their work. If they have other issues they may need to be skipped in the rotation.