1. Now that there is unlimited potential to celebrate the work of students with their communities, I think the best way to manage this opportunity is to start slowly and to work in the safest environments possible. It is very easy to publish student work online. However, that does create a risk. Anyone could write anything about the work being published. I think the best way to manage this is to select sites that are specific and student-centered on which to publish student work. Some sites, like Teen Ink actually screen comments and remove any vulgarities or inappropriate remarks. Additionally, those who comment on the site tend to be there because they are highly interested in teen writing; they are either teen authors or teachers/supporters of teen writers. This type of site is a safe place where one might start to dabble in publishing and celebrating student work online.
2. There are many tools out there today that can enable students to have authentic work experiences and relationships. Skype can be a terrific tool to bridge geographical gaps between students. Students can Skype with students from other school, in other countries, the possibilities are pretty endless. What better way to discuss other cultures than to talk to someone who lives within that culture? Skype can also be used to bring people into the classroom who might not otherwise be able to get there. Guest speakers could Skype to the class or, as was mentioned by November, grandparents can visit the classroom or students who are suffering from long-term illnesses can participate in the class from time to time through video-conferencing or Skype, (November, 2011).
Additionally, there are numerous primary resources available online that can create wonderful opportunities for students to think critically while researching a topic. By looking at primary resources, students are given a first-hand view of a topic. They are left to analyze and evaluate the resources. Also, as students become more familiar with databases and other tools, they can be given real-world problems to solve through their own research and work.
3. If every teacher had a web-site, I think there are several features these sites could contain that would make it easy for teachers to share their best practices. First of all, I think that teachers could post overviews of units they teach throughout the year. Teachers could also post documents that they use when teaching these units. A list of helpful links could be included on the site. Finally, the site could have a discussion section where other teachers could post ideas, questions, etc. for others to discuss.
Laura, I love your idea about posting students work on Teen Ink. We read Teen Ink in our language arts classes and students are always intrigued and surprised that someone their age has written something so profound and moving. Typically students who submit such work to teen magazines and similar publications are our high performing students. How do you think teachers can provide the same opportunities to groups of students whose skills might not be so refined? Keeping in mind that students should be creating works with different types of audiences in mind..not just their teachers/peers/or learning communities?
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki and Laura,
ReplyDeleteI wish I could get my students hooked on Teen Ink because it's a great place for them to be inspired by other students. I subscribe to the magazine and have it in my classroom but no one picks it up very often. I've gotten sets and have givn them to my after school writing group but so far, no one has submitted anything (at least not that I know of). I've got some excellent writers and I think it would increase their confidence to be published to a larger audience. I also have a link on the class Edline page. I would be so proud to see my students' work on Teen Ink or one of the other online publishing places. It's also comforting to know that the submissions are screened for appropriateness.
I think that Nikki brought up a tough but good question about what to do for those students who are not writing at the same level as their peers. I have been thinking about having my students start a blog or site where anyone can publish their work. Not only will it give beginning writers the ability to see their work in print and be inspired by some of the more advanced students but I think it would enable some of the better writers to develop mentorships with students who are simply at a different phase in their writing. One of the things I've noticed in my afterschool writing group is that the students are very kind and respectful of everyone and their ability. They are nurturing of all students and I think that having a writing site that encourages a diverse group of writers can help develop this understanding. So, I don't think that it's negative to have students of all different levels sharing their writing. After all, that's what we do in heterogeneous classrooms.