The Image Generation

This seems to be the generation of images! Unlike the "golden days of old" we as educators can no longer talk our students to death and expect them to a) relate to us, b) become interested in anything we have to say, or the even deadlier c) participate in the class discussion. In today's world images capture the eyes and the minds of both young and old. Image generators such as Wordle or Flickr Montager allow various images to instantly motivate students into actively learning and participating in the social issues the are evaluated in the classroom; in addition to supplying them with the ability to apply this strategy in real time. Yes we can stall and weave a basket of excuses as to why students should just be able to adapt as well as become adept to OUR WAY of teaching, but really is it necessary to dig our heels in the sand just to make a point? No I think we should all become MAN/WOMAN enough to accept the challenge and supply our future with what they need. I'm off the soapbox now.....until next time.

Using Blogs in the Library

Coming out of an extremely restricitve school where I taught alternative high school students for two years, I wish I would have found something this exciting to use in the classroom. Most of the students came out of lower income families but still had access to the internet. We were always restricting the access that students had to the internet, in addition to the types of assingments that they could do while using technology. We had an amazing computer tech teacher, but there was never any collaboration with him, we always just used the space and asked him to move over, or just help monitor the students. Bloggin would have definitely engaged these students and would have given them some outlet in the world where they spent most of their time, yet were the most resticted.

I think using blogs in the library is such an oxymoron that its almost radical in thought. Who would have known that we could make a student's time in the media centerr this enjoyanle while using something that is common to them. Rather than just handing out homework assignments and then collecting them and having to suffer through than mandated excuses of "I don't have it" or "I didn't know that was due today!," you could just post it on the blog to have students respond. On the teacher's part, I am sooooooooooooooooo tired of reading through papers and I am always distracted by the internet and searching, that this would actually focus me and help me to give instant feedback.