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| CC-BY-2.0 by sylviaduckworth |
The Russell Street School definitely shows the importance they place on blogging - by the school, teachers, and students. While perusing the blog and Google site, I was quite impressed with their use of technology (specifically
blogs) to communicate with students and parents. This is a place parents can
follow what is happening in class. Explanations are written by the teachers,
there are photos of students in action, and student-created videos as well. I
like that it is a one-stop-shop for resources (videos, stories, songs) and
notices for parents. I also like that anyone can get to all of the individual
class blogs and other school information from the main Google site – easy
navigation will make it more likely that parents will follow the blogs.
It would be really great if all of the class blogs were more
uniform in the types of information/tabs. I think there should be some
differences since different grade levels are doing different things with the
students, but a simple basic structure would make it even easier to understand.
For instance, I really like the “About Us” page for Room 12-14:Pautama – where
the teachers introduce themselves and what the blog is being used for. If
parents are ok with both their child’s names and pictures being posted – then
that’s great. But, if anyone is worried about child safety – maybe only using
first names (as they are) and not labeling photos with student names could help
with some safety worries. One small detail that would help cohesion would be for
each blog to have the school logo somewhere in the heading (which links to the
Google Site), so it is obvious that the Russell Street School teachers and
students create all of these blogs. Overall though, this is a great use of using weblogs in education.
I agree with a lot of what you said and had wondered in my own post if there was one person overall who runs or supervises the blog or if it is just a conglomeration of posts at the will of teachers and students. In a way, I think my concerns or worries to this are a reaction to living in the litigious society that is the US.
ReplyDeleteGood reflection about certain concerns being a product of teaching in the US. I know there are many aspects about teaching that have either become a non-issue or I have become much more relaxed about since teaching overseas. The US is definitely a bit uptight about far too many issues - of course I think in response to past issues - but nonetheless, I believe that sometimes the responses and litigations has become too intense.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to be concerned about posting online. At my school, parents/guardians have to fill out a form at the beginning of each school year about whether students can have a name or photograph posted on the school website, local news channel, or newspaper publication. Some parents even decline to have their student photo posted on a bulletin board in the school. I am all for protecting my identity and minimizing my digital presence, but if other students can see the child walking down the hall, why can't he have a photo hung on the wall? It becomes a nightmare for the teachers and guidance department to cross reference every name on the publication permissions list for group photos.
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