Comments on: Allez, Blogs! Allez!

By: Andrea pokrzywinski

Andrea pokrzywinski — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 15:25:14 +0000

The scope of the response to blogging by students in france caught my eye. Kids love this stuff. How can we build upon students natural inclination to blog? I have a hunch that there is a way to combine blogging and portfolio development to foster a constructivist educational movement. I think there might be a useful connection between the two processes. My thoughts are pretty messy about this, but that’s what draws me to explore the concept of blogging.

By: Jacques

Jacques — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 08:55:29 +0000

You don’t have to cross the Atlantic to find blogging “en français”, in an authentic educational setting.

Have a look at this :
http://cyberportfolio.st-joseph.qc.ca/carriere/
(in Quebec City)
and this:
http://cahm.elg.ca/
(in New Brunswick; you know, that forest east of Maine…)

No mention of wine-breathed teachers here
Jacques

By: Will R.

Will R. — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 08:16:01 +0000

Hey, Nathan…I’m not complaining. I taught expository writing for 15 years and believe me, I’m in the camp that says that the more you use the words the better. But absolutely right to ask whether teachers are up to the job of talking with students about it rather than at them. In fact, I might suggest to my English Department Supervisor that she engage her teachers in a dialogue about what this type of writing means. Might be a way into the conversation with students…

By: nathan lowell

nathan lowell — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 19:23:01 +0000

Here’s my problem with this discussion.

I keep hearing about how hard it is to get kids to read and write. Now you’re gonna complain that you don’t like what they’re reading and writing??

If you don’t engage in their conversations, you’re only talking ABOUT them and not WITH them. Their conversation is over there. If the goal is to help them understand, shape the conversation into something more productive, show them how to get more out of it … you can’t do that by talking to us
A journal can be a reflection or a grocery list. Each has a place in education. The critical skill is knowing what that is and the critical job for teachers is helping those people who need to know that differnce. The critical question is, “Are you up to it?”

By: Will R.

Will R. — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:55:54 +0000

That’s why I said “Non?” No, this isn’t blogging. And no, it’s not an educational tool the way I would like it to be. The scope of issues like these seems to be widening, and I’m still having trouble getting my brain around it…

By: Laura Pearle

Laura Pearle — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:23:52 +0000

NON! Vraiment NON!

“But that portability is ruffling feathers in the classroom, where provocative adolescents use their journals to lampoon teachers and classmates with embarrassing camera-phone snaps and abusive remarks like ‘il pue le vin’ — ‘he stinks of wine.’”

If that’s what the majority of the posts are (and it seems to be, given what I read), then this is hardly an educational tool worth exploiting. Aren’t we trying to raise the level of discussion to one of introspection and learning, not the electronic equilvalent of passing nasty notes in class?