Blogging and Wikis

In chapter 3, Richardson provides a step by step guide to creating and customizing your own blog.  I felt that this was very helpful for me since blogging is something I have never done before.  I really appreciated the tips that Richardson gave for what you can do under the "template" tab.  You can customize your blog page and really make it yours.  You can change the font, template, and add in links and pictures.  I am looking forward to using this chapter as more of a reference if I have any more questions.

Chapter 4 is about wikis.  I didn't really know what a wiki was and still am a little unsure.  To me, it seems like it is a big data base or blog where someone can post something and then another person can come along and edit the information that was posted before?  Wikis is something that I would like to know more about and obtain a better understanding of.  I would also like to know how wikis are used within the classroom setting.  Richardson suggested that wikis could be used as an online text for your classroom's curriculum.  This seems appropriate for older students, however, I am looking to see how it can be used with my kindergarten and first grade students.  This is something that I will look further into. 

Richardson Chapters 1 & 2

I was flipping through our book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms and something that I read really stuck in my mind. In the preface it was talking about what the central message for the book is. Richardson said, "in order for us to prepare our students for what is without question a future filled with net-worked learning spaces, we must first experience those environments for ourselves" (Richardson, 2010). I feel as an adult, I have a pretty good understanding of the new technology in our world now and what its use is. However, after reading further into the book, I was questioning myself. I want my young elementary students to be prepared for what their education in a digital world is going to be like. Therefore, I want to learn whatever I can to help integrate new technology and techniques into my classroom. Since our students are going to be moving into the direction of doing everything via the web, teachers have to learn all of the technology tools in order to prepare our students. Some technology tools that I think teachers should learn to use in the classroom are blogs, wikis, audio and video casting, and utilizing skype and/or webcams.  

By giving my kindergarten and first grade students more independence to go onto the computer and try new projects using the web or typing on a blog, I am nervous about the inappropriate material they might come across. I like the ideas in chapter one on how to approach this with elementary students. Richardson suggests going on web tours first before showing your students anything and simply teaching them that if something comes up on the web, they quickly hit the back button and move on. It is also important that before you do anything with your class on the web, get all of your parents permission first. I like how teachers before their students' blog posts go viral, they look at them first and decide whether it can be published or not. I noticed this on Mrs. Norton's blog and I'm sure that it is the same for other teacher or school blogs as well. One of the weblogs I really liked was the blog that principal Tim Lauer created from Portland, Oregon (Meriwether-Lewis Elementary School). I think that it is an awesome way to get information out to parents, students, and the community. My teaching partners and I create a newsletter that we send home weekly, but it would be great to put everything onto a kindergarten and first grade blog that parents could go to and access information from. We could post their homework assignments, pictures, or even share the students' work. I am excited to learn more about different technology tools I can use with my young students and integrate into my classroom!