Week2

G'day Friends!

I wanted to share with you some interesting and innovative teaching tips (and thoughts) I came across whilst reading some blogs this week.

Firstly,  I discovered that there are so many different ways to incorporate blogs into our classrooms and utilize them as more than simply 'digital diaries'. The idea board is bursting with new and exciting ways to get students writing blogs and using this fun and creative technology tool whilst they do so. I 100% agree with the writer that choosing to integrate blogging into the classroom to support our teaching and curriculum is a fundamental aspect of teaching in this century. What I love about blogging is that it can be done anywhere and at anytime. Students don't have to be the most tech savvy and can add as much or as little to their page as they would like. The most important factor is to encourage writing and what better way to do that than to appeal to them through the technology that majority of them will be familiar with (on some level).

For further ideas of integrating blogging into the classroom follow this link: http://gettingsmart.com/2014/02/making-student-blogs-digital-diaries/

In addition I learnt all about blended learning. This involves creating a formal education program whereby a student learns part of the day through some type of online delivery or instruction. In this type of learning the student has the beneficial tool of being able to control the pace, place and path of their learning. The other part of the students days is devoted to a more traditional type of classroom teaching.
Although I think this idea is great and can benefit the students immensely, I do not know how realistic it would be to implement into the Israeli classroom. Not only is it costly but it would involve a level of understanding of the technology which not all facets of our country hold.

Here is the link to find out more info: http://www.edudemic.com/implement-blended-learning/

The last blog I read was entitled "Be a (teacher) Olympian". This blog entry didn't provide me with any particular new or exciting technology tools. In fact it didn't have any. The writer simply used the forum to convey her feelings on teachers being much like Olympians. I did enjoy reading this post albeit that I was expecting it to be something to do more with technology tools and integrating the topic of the Olympics into the classroom. I love the last line "be an Olympian. Take the risk of measuring your accomplishments".

To see the full blog entry click here: http://blog.teachersfirst.com/thinkteach/

I think as teacher we sometimes need to be reminded to step back and look at what we have accomplished in our classrooms and with our students. And with that, I will leave you until next week.

Have a good one! :)