As a geography/social studies teacher, I will focus my list on that content area.
1. I could use the blog to pose discussion questions for my students. They would then respond to the discussion questions and to each other.
2. I could have my students create a research blog. Let's say, for example, that we are doing a unit on Worl War 2. Students could each take a battle and then blog about the various aspects of the battle: who was involved, major players, casualties, strategies, etc.
3. I could use the blog as a journaling experience. Students could assume create an update a blog that would serve as a reaction to the various areas that we study throughout the world.
4. I could have my students create a portfolio with a blog. They could update the blog with a variety of projects, writings, and reactions to various events that have occurred in history.
5. Students could use the blog as a current event tracker. If I assigned each student to a particular region or country in the world, they could do weekly updates regarding the current events of that location.
6. Students could create a blog together that would serve as a collaboration tool. If I wanted them to team up as a group to do some research or a presentation, I could have them serve as co-authors of the blog and input their own work.
I liked your idea of having each student keep track of one region and then update the class on what was occurring there. Once a student takes ownership of a country they will develop a greater interest in events outside of the U.S. leading to greater learning.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot of good ideas. the one i liked the most was the current events tracker. i think each student tracking their own region would be a good time and fun to read.
ReplyDeleteMicah-I like your idea for the current event tracker (mind if I borrow it??).
ReplyDeleteAs a social studies teacher & a former geography teacher, I am amazed at the lack of knowledge of geography of my students. I could have totally used this with my latest unit I taught-American Imperialism (Spanish-American War, Panama Canal building, Pacific islands).
Your list has some great ideas! Thanks!
Micah you have a lot of really great ideas for using blogs in you classroom. I think that any of those ideas would make a great addition to the classroom. Any time you can combine current technology (like blogging) and good educational content it increases learning.
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