Comments on: Struggling With New Forms of Writing http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:17:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Tom McHale http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1834 Tom McHale Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:13:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1834 <a></a>Learning new technologies and ways of teaching takes a huge investment of time and the willingness to take risks. The only way to make this palatable to already overwhelmed teachers is to: 1. Convince them that this will make their lives easier. 2. Show them that this will result in a dramatic improvement in the quality of student writing. 3. Convince them that they are better preparing their students for college, not the real world - college. 4. Show them that this will result in improved performance on standardized tests. Because the reality is that it's not only students that are judged by these tests. Learning new technologies and ways of teaching takes a huge investment of time and the willingness to take risks.

The only way to make this palatable to already overwhelmed teachers is to:

1. Convince them that this will make their lives easier.

2. Show them that this will result in a dramatic improvement in the quality of student writing.

3. Convince them that they are better preparing their students for college, not the real world - college.

4. Show them that this will result in improved performance on standardized tests. Because the reality is that it’s not only students that are judged by these tests.

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1833 Will Richardson Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:44:50 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1833 <a></a>Laura, I'm going to point my English teachers to your response, because I know they are pretty mortified at having to teach the 5-paragraph essay themselves. But that's what passing the test has driven them to, even if they don't want to call it that. Thanks for stopping by. Laura,
I’m going to point my English teachers to your response, because I know they are pretty mortified at having to teach the 5-paragraph essay themselves. But that’s what passing the test has driven them to, even if they don’t want to call it that. Thanks for stopping by.

]]> By: Laura http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1832 Laura Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:28:16 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1832 <a></a>College English teachers pull their hair out unteaching the 5 paragraph theme. Please stop. We had a meeting today with other freshman English teachers and my class (<a href="http://woi.brynmawr.edu" rel="nofollow">http://woi.brynmawr.edu</a>), which has the students blogging twice a week, just doesn't seem to be having the same problems that other people's students are having. I mean, the writing isn't perfect by any means, but they're certainly learning more about "real" writing than they would be in another version of this class. I'm quite proud of them really! College English teachers pull their hair out unteaching the 5 paragraph theme. Please stop. We had a meeting today with other freshman English teachers and my class (http://woi.brynmawr.edu), which has the students blogging twice a week, just doesn’t seem to be having the same problems that other people’s students are having. I mean, the writing isn’t perfect by any means, but they’re certainly learning more about “real” writing than they would be in another version of this class. I’m quite proud of them really!

]]> By: qdsouza http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1831 qdsouza Tue, 08 Nov 2005 22:32:43 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1831 <a></a>Will, I have been reading Weblogg-ed for a while and love it. You have a big fan up here in Toronto, Canada. I'm trying to get blogs going at on our school board intranet for staff and hopefully inspire enough interest to push forward with an internet iniatitive for staff and students. I can appreciate the too much on their plate faces, when I am doing in-services. I was just thinking that when we talk of blogging as a new form of writing, I want to ask the question "Who is it new for?" For us - yes - for students - I'm not so sure. Since we are introducing that 5 paragraph essay to them, that would be a new form of writing as much as a blog. It is what these students will be using to communicate in the future that is what is important - 5 paragraph essay or a blog type of environemtn. What do we gear our programs towards? Thanks for all your posts - it keeps me thinking. Quentin D'Souza Blogging at <a href="http://www.QuentinDSouza.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.QuentinDSouza.com</a> Will,

I have been reading Weblogg-ed for a while and love it. You have a big fan up here in Toronto, Canada. I’m trying to get blogs going at on our school board intranet for staff and hopefully inspire enough interest to push forward with an internet iniatitive for staff and students. I can appreciate the too much on their plate faces, when I am doing in-services.

I was just thinking that when we talk of blogging as a new form of writing, I want to ask the question “Who is it new for?” For us - yes - for students - I’m not so sure. Since we are introducing that 5 paragraph essay to them, that would be a new form of writing as much as a blog. It is what these students will be using to communicate in the future that is what is important - 5 paragraph essay or a blog type of environemtn. What do we gear our programs towards?

Thanks for all your posts - it keeps me thinking.

Quentin D’Souza
Blogging at http://www.QuentinDSouza.com

]]> By: Christopher Harris http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1830 Christopher Harris Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:38:35 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/struggling-with-new-forms-of-writing/#comment-1830 <a></a>Will, I can't seem to get this thing to accept a comment from me, but I will try again. What about starting small with an electronic writing portfolio? It could be set up in a blog or CMS environment (I use Drupal a lot) to collect samples and allow feedback. Teachers could grade (moderate), promote exemplars for wider sharing, and encourage interaction between readers and writers. Will, I can’t seem to get this thing to accept a comment from me, but I will try again.

What about starting small with an electronic writing portfolio? It could be set up in a blog or CMS environment (I use Drupal a lot) to collect samples and allow feedback. Teachers could grade (moderate), promote exemplars for wider sharing, and encourage interaction between readers and writers.

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