"Each generation seems to lament the characteristics of the generations that follow." (Black, 2010). As an educator who is a product of "Generation X" style education, trying to conform, or rather
reform education today is something that I see as a challenge, but necessary. The classroom is an environment which is starving for technological enrichment, and the students are the ones who are suffering the most. One way to tackle this problem is introducing technology that is user-friendly (for the teacher) and a way of life (for the student). Since most teachers I know are 'life-long learners,' admittedly or not, I find that blogging is an effective tool to help the students connect to one another individually and collaboratively. There are many ways to introduce blogging as a useful and usable forum. According to Higdon and Topaz (2009), one way to do this is by using blogging as a precursor to introducing new concepts in class; "...instructors use preclass assignments to gauge student understanding of course concepts." This gives the teacher the ability to focus on those areas that the students seemed most concerned with and tailor the lesson(s) accordingly. This breaks down the intimidation barrier that students may feel while in class and gives the teacher some time to truly understand what the students needs are. It can also be used as a post-lesson survey to see how well the information has been disseminated, and if it has been 'learned.'
Black (2010) said that "They (students) are far more comfortable using a keyboard than writing in a notebook." If this is true, then today's students would be more inclined to respond via electronic means than in class. This can also promote better writing skills if the students prefer a computer versus the traditional pen/pencil and paper method those "Gen Xers" of us are used to. The environment is something the students are more comfortable in, which in turn can be reflected in their performance.
We cannot forget about the teachers; we are the people who are responsible for urging our students to further themselves. We are the people who try to create the love of learning. We are the people who want our students to succeed without limitation; yet we ourselves do not utilize the very tools we are trying to encourage our students to use. Education does not stop with the students. As educators, we too must further develop skills in an effort to improve our methods. According to Ferriter (2009), "Adult learning is often pushed aside in schools as educators sprint through the day, worried about leaving no child behind." It's ironic that we lack the tools we need to develop professionally, all the while we are concerned about the students. Blogging promotes a community in which teachers can develop professionally. Ferriter points out that "...thousands of accomplished educators are now writing blogs about teaching and learning." We should use these blogs as a means of learning for ourselves, as a means of enriching our teaching practices at times and locations that suit us best. Rather than being subjected to what someone else feels is "important"or "relevant," blogging and using aggregators enables us to find the information we need quickly and easily.
References
Black, A. (2010). Gen Y: Who They Are and How They Learn. Educational Horizons, 88(2), 92-101. Retrieved May 6, 2010 from ERIC database.
Ferriter, B. (2009). Learning with Blogs and Wikis. Educational Leadership, 66(5), 34-38. Retrieved May 6, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
Higdon, J., & Topaz, C. (2009). Blogs and Wikis as Instructional Tools: A Social Software Adaptation of Just-in-Time Teaching. College Teaching, 57(2), 105-110. Retrieved May 6, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
