Blogging in the Classroom

Blogging can definitely have a positive place in the classroom. By blogging, students may feel less intimidated by writing or sharing their opinions. Many teachers have their students keep a daily journal or diary to turn in-- classroom blogging is a modern update of this. However, classroom blogging must be used with caution. It is important to first teach the students about internet safety. It would also be a good idea to check with the principal for permission. If I had a classroom blog, I would use it as a place to share quality links and information with my students. I would also begin discussions with them about various composers or pieces we are playing in class, so that they could talk about it in a safe place. Some students have trouble speaking up in class, but online, they may not feel so shy.

For more information about the pros and cons of classroom blogging, check out these two links:

http://learning-with-computers.blogspot.com/2006/07/pros-and-cons-of-blogs-by-illya.html

http://leadingout.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/classroom-blogging-handbookcopyright.pdf

The Role of Technology

When I was in Elementary School, the only time I used a computer was to do Accelerated Reader quizes. My family had an old 1985 macintosh desktop computer, but I did not use it very often and we were the only family I knew with a computer. We used laser disk players to watch educational movies. In Middle School, we used a computer to make power point presentations and write papers. However, we did our research at the library, with a card catalog. We used overhead projectors in the classroom, too. In High School, I do not remember there being computers in the library. Most classrooms had a few computers, but we used them mainly for the word processor. When it comes to technology, my students will definitely have a vastly different experience than mine. They will be doing the bulk of their research for projects on the internet. They will not use paper card catalogs. They might even read many of their books online, as opposed to the actual bound book. By the time I am actually in the classroom, I am sure that technology will have changed even more and will be an even bigger part of a student's life.

My Biography

My name is Alice Buchanan. I am an Instrumental Music Education major at MTSU and will student teach in the Spring '10 semester. I am from Memphis, TN and began my violin study at age six. I would most like to teach Elementary Music or Suzuki violin. When not doing schoolwork, I enjoy playing with my dog, playing music with my friends, cooking, and travelling.