My progress for indicator 2a has been more of a success that my progress on indicator 3b.
My progress for indicator 2a has been moving in a positive direction as of late. I have been able to obtain computer lab time and more computers in my classroom. I use to have 2 desktop computers, but now I have 2 desktops plus 5 laptops. What I have been doing is scheduling time in my schools computer lab, but my time has been limited. The students who seem to need more assistance or time are allowed to use the PC’s in the classroom during our recess or down time (enrichment periods). I wish all the students could use the computers in the classrooms but I have to limit it to those who need more exposure to it. The availability of digital cameras is probably the biggest issue. Our school has perhaps 3 or 4 working digital cameras, and only 1 class at a time can borrow just 1 of them. And sometimes not a single camera is available, or in some cases even working. I’ve asked parents and students if they have a digital camera please bring it in for our projects. Our school does not permit the use of personal recording devices, but I have written my own permission slip or notification to the parents so they are aware that I or the school cannot take full responsibility for the cameras. Most parents and students who do have a digital camera were ok with the procedure. The only thing is, I haven’t told my principal yet, due to the fact she might turn down our ideas. Out of sight out of mind. (he he he). Same thing goes for the Wiki and Blog sites. I have just been using it without definite permission. I asked the computer teacher and she said she saw nothing wrong with it, so I went ahead and did one.
Even though indicator 2b sounds like it has hit some bumps in the road, indicator 3b has been more of a challenge.
I have created a classroom blog to collaborate with parents. What I have found is only a handful of parents actually visit the blog. My counter only changes about by 3 or 4 each night. I ask some of the students if their parents have been going on, some say they don’t know and others say not at all. Some of the students say that are the ones who have been visiting the blog and not their parents. So, I’m not sure how to get it out there or to persuade parents to visit the blog. I’ve been sending letters home about the blog and also letters about what’s happening in class. I really want to get away from that. So, what I think I need is a way to get the parents more involved in accessing the blog.
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Nish,
ReplyDeleteWell, I would definitely include my principal in my blogging and wiki decisions. It is just better to let them know what is going on, instead of having a big surprise when something goes wrong, and something always goes wrong. At this point, you may want to show your principal examples of student work, so that the "surprise" is a taken a little better. As far as parents go, keep posting student work. The students will show it off to their parents and then they will see it. Many parents have bad memories of school and teachers, so asking them to blog with you is probably a futile effort. Display the work of their children and they will show interest. Good Luck!
Mike
I like the blog being used for parents and not students, but I am seeing a pattern of students to parents that parents do not want to do more than they need to. It is labor intensive for teachers and too much for parents. If there were a district blog or website that each parent is well aware of from the administration I believe that could allow parents to become more active on that one technology. I also think that if you are using a classroom blog for parents it needs to be advertised by the students. Maybe if you make it a homework assignment for students to show their parents about the blog. That is just my opinion, and I hope you have a little more success because it does take a lot of your time.
ReplyDeleteNish,
ReplyDeleteI had a principal tell me once that instead of taking a risk by asking you could always ask for forgiveness after the fact. It really changed how I viewed things and it has worked for me for the last 17 years.
I think getting the parents to blog will take you several years. There are still many teachers who have not heard about wiki's or blog's. You might try a parent night in the computer lab to show the parents how to do it and to get them started.