Alternatives to blogging?
I am really excited about incorporating blogging into my classroom this year because most of my students will have access to the Internet outside of class; the demographic I worked with at my previous school was just the opposite, making it virtually impossible to be successful in integrating blogs into my classroom because of the lack of access to technology. I would really like to post one question per week and have students share their thoughts about whatever work of literature we are studying at the time using a specific blog I have set up for each class. I have spent my weekend setting up a really cool Weebly site that I think will work well with my students.
Here’s the issue: I know there will be the possibility that some parents will not be comfortable with their kids using the Web, and while I am not anticipating it being a huge issue in the district where I am teaching, I am also concerned about students who may have a difficult time accessing the website because they don’t have access to the Internet at home. Computers with Internet access are available at school, but from past experience, I have found that those students are also the ones who usually have to take the bus home as soon as the bell rings, so it’s difficult for them to make time.
I am currently thinking that I could have those students simply submit their responses to me in written form, but that takes away from the collaboration with peers that I am striving for in setting up the blog in the first place.
Any thoughts? I am teaching 9th and 10th grade Honors and College Preparatory students.
What does your classroom technology look like? do you have a computer, laptop or iPad in your class?
I know you probably want this blog to be done on their own time but maybe you can provide some time in class daily or weekly for those that do not have Internet access at home? it would be more work on your part but you could give them the question in writing on a Monday, let them answer on Tuesday, then print out the other students posts for them on Wednesday and let them respond on Thursday. I think something like this would work fine considering that they are Honors and College Prep students.
Another option, do you know if your students have iPhones? If they do, they could possibly use them to reply as I believe Weebly has an iPhone app, however, I dont think there is an Andriod app.
Anyone else have suggestions?
