Comments on: It’s All About Engagement http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/its-all-about-engagement/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:26:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Steve Lazar http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/its-all-about-engagement/#comment-2292 Steve Lazar Tue, 28 Mar 2006 02:38:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/its-all-about-engagement/#comment-2292 <a></a>Can't find a trackback link for this. The full post is avaliable <a href="http://outsidethecave.blogspot.com/2006/03/blogging-is-not-for-everyone.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Well, I think one of the most important aspects of getting students (and teachers) engaged to to start from their points of view, not ours. The first questions shouldn't be "how can I get my students to do what works for me?" or "how can I share my passion for blogging (or anything else) with my students?" Rather, if we really want to engage our students, we need to ask "what do our students do that works for them?" and "what are my students passions?" Then we must consider how to adapt content matter and learning tools to our students.... Can’t find a trackback link for this. The full post is avaliable here.

Well, I think one of the most important aspects of getting students (and teachers) engaged to to start from their points of view, not ours. The first questions shouldn’t be “how can I get my students to do what works for me?” or “how can I share my passion for blogging (or anything else) with my students?” Rather, if we really want to engage our students, we need to ask “what do our students do that works for them?” and “what are my students passions?” Then we must consider how to adapt content matter and learning tools to our students….

]]> By: Joan Vinall-Cox http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/its-all-about-engagement/#comment-2291 Joan Vinall-Cox Mon, 27 Mar 2006 22:58:43 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/its-all-about-engagement/#comment-2291 <a></a>My response is a quote from the Community Blog for my 3rd year course in oral rhetoric - "The blogs allow us to learn and grow as a group. If we are asked to learn as a group should we not be graded as a group? With all the knowledge we aquired from each other this term I honestly believe we all deserve A's. Not because I want an A, though I do, but because I believe that we experienced this class together the best way it could ever be experienced. If that doesn't warrant A's all around I don't know what does." They have become a learning community, and it's amazing how much they have helped each other learn. (And my charming student - unnamed because he kept the post limited to our class only - has received a comment on the long-term importance of intrinsic rewards and the short-lived importance of extrinsic rewards; not what he was angling for, but hey! "you don't always get what you want, but sometimes, you just might get what you need", eh? Although we have a class wiki as well, and some rich class storytelling, it is the blog where they connected with questions and help. My response is a quote from the Community Blog for my 3rd year course in oral rhetoric -
“The blogs allow us to learn and grow as a group. If we are asked to learn as a group should we not be graded as a group? With all the knowledge we aquired from each other this term I honestly believe we all deserve A’s. Not because I want an A, though I do, but because I believe that we experienced this class together the best way it could ever be experienced. If that doesn’t warrant A’s all around I don’t know what does.”
They have become a learning community, and it’s amazing how much they have helped each other learn. (And my charming student - unnamed because he kept the post limited to our class only - has received a comment on the long-term importance of intrinsic rewards and the short-lived importance of extrinsic rewards; not what he was angling for, but hey! “you don’t always get what you want, but sometimes, you just might get what you need”, eh?

Although we have a class wiki as well, and some rich class storytelling, it is the blog where they connected with questions and help.

]]> By: Nadine Norris http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/its-all-about-engagement/#comment-2290 Nadine Norris Mon, 27 Mar 2006 20:25:23 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/its-all-about-engagement/#comment-2290 <a></a>I also like what Barbara said,and it hit home with me. I'm rather intimidated by blogging. One kind of feels vulnerable at first...putting thoughts, knowledge, and opinions out there for everyone to read and respond to. I think reading blogs for example, can be the first level of engagement. I read alot. I read everything Will has to say :), but I don't write alot. My personal experience with student bloggers in an educational blogging setting is very positive. The fact is that the more response they get from others, the more motivated they are to write. It's the conversation that keeps you writing. I really appreciate how respectful and interesting the conversation between students as young as 12 can be. They are great models for teachers like me, who is just packing this into their toolbox. I also like what Barbara said,and it hit home with me. I’m rather intimidated by blogging. One kind of feels vulnerable at first…putting thoughts, knowledge, and opinions out there for everyone to read and respond to. I think reading blogs for example, can be the first level of engagement. I read alot. I read everything Will has to say :), but I don’t write alot. My personal experience with student bloggers in an educational blogging setting is very positive. The fact is that the more response they get from others, the more motivated they are to write. It’s the conversation that keeps you writing. I really appreciate how respectful and interesting the conversation between students as young as 12 can be. They are great models for teachers like me, who is just packing this into their toolbox.

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