Thinking about and actually drafting my educational technology philosophy has helped me gain insight as to where I am in my teaching career and where I am headed. I am proud to know that I’m doing what I can to be a better teacher of my digital native students. By publishing my educational beliefs and objectives, my future career goals are important and meaningful.
Blogging is a wonderful communication tool that can be used with students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike. Blogging provides a safe forum for open communication within small and large communities. For example, I can see students not only blogging with other students, but I can see them possibly blogging with authors of books they have read. Another useful way in which blogging can be used is to get the students who do not like to participate in large group discussions to take part in safe online communication with others. Blogging is one way of making open communication purpose-driven.
I don’t think we’ve met the potential of blogging as mentioned in Stephen Downes’s article. I know until this past year it was impossible for me to blog with my students because a “district-approved” blog site was not available. I am also aware of the fact that not everyone has Internet access at home. Blogging, as mentioned in Downes’s article, has its place in the educational world, unfortunately we’re just not there yet.
I found Alan November’s piece to be quite enlightening, and I have to agree with his first point the most. It is incredibly important for educators to make sure students know how to determine a reputable site from one that is not. As an 8th grade English teacher who teaches the Holocaust, using Professor Butz’s website as an example of a non-reputable site has a profound impact on my students. It shows them just how easy it is to believe and assume that what is on the Internet is true.
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