Category Archives: technology

May 30, 2011 · 2:10 pm

Blogging 101… the Beginning

Welcome to my new blog. This is my first true attempt into the blogosphere. I will be posting here various topics that relate to Educational Technology. I have contemplated blogging many times, but my hatred, fear and full anxiety of writing has prevented me from doing so.

Today I would like to discuss blogs. What is their purpose? Should they be used in schools? If I really liked writing I would say, “Yes.” Since I do not want my contempt for writing to bias me, I will stay say, “Yes.” There are a myriad of activities and projects that can be done with a blog.

Blogs can be used as a writing tool. Students can blog a paragraph or too and then other students can comment on it. They can make their editorial critiques and then the student can create a final draft. The teacher can see which students are commenting and are participating in the assignment.

Additionally blogs can be used to brainstorm about a holiday or event in Jewish History. Everyone can have their voice heard. Blogs can be used to help create D’vray Torah as a community where everyone has a say.

Check out these links for some ideas:

http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47

http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=4992

http://web20intheclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/10/ways-to-use-blogs-in-your-classroom-and.html

If you have any other ideas or comments please feel free to share. Just please be kind with your comments.

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Filed under blogs, computers, Education, technology, web 2.0

May 22, 2011 · 10:30 pm

To Tweet or Not to Tweet

I have never been much of a tweeter. When everyone was talking about it, I decided to try it out. Even after trying it a bit I could not get into it.

I really disagree with the idea that people want to check in and hear about everyone’s mundane activities. Why would anyone want to know whether or not I am filling up with gas or is taking out the garbage? If you go with the theory that it is to keep in touch with people far away then they can’t meet you at the mall or go for a walk.

I will consent that it does have some uses. My school will tweet when a bus will be late or it lets parents know what is happening with their children while they are inIsrael. Overall I think that many, if not most, people tweet the STUPIDEST things. Also my page gets filled up constant retweets of stupid things.

This being said, what are the uses for twitter in a school setting? I work in an elementary school and there is not much use for it. These students are not allowed to have cell phones or PDAs in school.

Perhaps they could access it from the web, but I do not see the purpose.

One idea that could be done is have each child read a paragraph or two and tweet a summary. The 140 character restriction does lend itself to great summary skills.

While learning about Jewish history, students can create a twitter account as if they were a figure from history and tweet about the events that are happening “as they occur”.

As with anything, you can probably find a way to integrate it into Jewish education. I am not sure it would be the best use of time or the best idea. I guess I still need convincing. I am keeping an open mind.  I would tweet this, but it is too long.


			

	
	

		
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Filed under computers, Education, technology, twitter, Uncategorized, web 2.0