Blog Review

I have created two blogs. One to use for this course and to reflect my thoughts and one to use at work. I plan to post news on the technology updates that will be coming out this fall. We will be unveiling several data management tools for teachers. I would also like to generate discussions on how to incorporate technology into the classrooms. One way to do this is to actually start using blogs. I think I know several teachers who would be interested in using them as an online journal. I love the Will Richardson's book that was assigned. I have read of several ideas on how to incorporate blogs into the classroom. I work in the curriculum departnment and several of us would like to start blogging as a way to develop learning communities as a way to sustain professional development. This is my main goal on how to use blogging. I will also share the ideas I read about and saw on-line with classroom teachers as a way to incorporate technology and use 21st centruy skills in the classroom. I think the biggest challenge will be overcoming the equity issue of who is using technology. Most teachers worry about how to get the studnets on the computer during the day. We are a very poor urban district. In our latest survey 68% of parents have access to e-mail. Some may have access at work only, so the number of students with internet access at home is most likely less. We have very old machines in the classrooms, but most highschools and middle schools have at least 1 lab.

The nets standard that I would be aligning to would be:
II Learning and Teaching

A. identify, use, evaluate, and promote appropriate technologies to enhance and support instruction and standards-based curriculum leadning to high levels of student achievement