"I had a terrible education. I attended a school for emotionally disturbed teachers." -- Woody Allen
Blogging can be a valuable tool for teachers and students. There, I said it. To understand what a big deal that is for me, let me go back a few years.
Anyone remember the movie "War Games?" You know, where Matthew Broderick somehow hacks into a government computer and starts playing a simulated war game between the U.S. and Russia, not realizing he's on the verge of starting a real war and obliterating the world?
A few years later, in 1987, I took my first computer class in high school. I can still remember standing in the doorway of the classroom, staring four rows of computers arranged in a large square. The sound of the computers' humming and buzzing was hypnotizing. I chose a computer, sat down and stared at a blank screen. The look on my face matched the blank screen.
The teacher began to speak, "Welcome to...you'll be using DOS...create and run your own program...blah, blah, blah." He didn't explain much. We couldn't ask other students for help. He went too fast. Major lack of communication. Maybe I wasn't about to obliterate the world, but I was certainly obliterating my confidence. Computers and technology? Not for me.
Fast forward 22 years. Now, I'm taking a class on technology and education. My first assignment: explaining how a new tool (in this case, blogging) can be used to help teach.
Blogging offers an open, clear line of communication. A teacher can use a blog to post assignments, announcements and messages. She can offer additional instruction or supplements to subjects introduced in class. She can explain what she's thinking, or even who she is. Blogging could also open lines of communication between students. Each student could set up his/her own blog. Questions, opinions, and assignments are just a few things to which the kids could read and respond. Even parents could join in.
Best of all, it's easy -- as easy as setting up this blog. Just a few clicks and, bingo. No emotionally disturbed teacher here, thankyouverymuch.
On my blog, when my students come through the door, their faces don't have to be filled with fear. They can come to a warm, inviting classroom with confidence and curiosity. And they don't have to worry about obliterating their confidence -- or their world.
