Assignment 1 – 1 page APA

What do you think about the evaluation rubric? Do you see areas where it falls short? Are there issues with it? Areas where it could be improved? How about things that it does better than you expected?

Assignment 2

Apply the evaluation rubric (which is attached) to the tools that you covered in the
two previous assignment.

Previous assignment 1

Blogging is a tool that improves pupils’ writing, critical thinking, and creativity. It has various advantages for students, including letting students organize their thoughts, opinions, and observations. Writing for a public audience, even their classmates, helps them outline their ideas and communicate coherently, improving their writing skills. Additionally, blogging requires an internet audience. Students realize their posts are public and not just homework for the teacher. This inspires people to convey their thoughts deliberately and convincingly, thinking about how others may react (Hamilton, 2018). Understanding this facet of blogging improves digital literacy, which is crucial in today’s linked world. Also, blogging promotes creativity and critical thinking. Students must be innovative to create intriguing and thought-provoking content. They may try different writing styles, multimedia, or interactive features to engage readers. As they comment and respond to peers’ ideas, they learn to think critically about multiple perspectives and arguments, deepening their comprehension of the topics (Hamilton, 2018). Establishing a digital presence is crucial today. Students can showcase their opinions and abilities by blogging. This competence is important in academics and future careers, where a professional internet presence can boost success. Teachers can also use blogging to foster student community and collaboration. They can encourage students to read and comment on each other’s blogs for a supportive and engaged environment. Students gain communication, respectful disagreement, and collaboration skills useful in professional and personal settings through constructive comments and stimulating debates.

However, it presents significant challenges because students may struggle to write significant content when blogging in education. Students may be unable to write meaningfully or contribute personal perspectives, resulting in shallow blog postings. Also, managing several student blogs can be time-consuming for professors, especially if they want to provide individualized feedback and assure material quality (Hamilton, 2018). Online safety and privacy are also concerns, especially for elementary pupils blogging. Educators must use diligent monitoring and supervision to address these issues, which might take time and resources.

In my teaching, I would use blogging to improve students’ writing and critical thinking. These include writing blog entries with personal insights, thought-provoking viewpoints, persuasive arguments, and the goal of sparking important interactions. Allowing children to choose themes that spark their enthusiasm and curiosity will let them express themselves and explore (Wells & Clayton, 2021). Doing so would encourage students to participate, resulting in powerful content. In order to get real feedback rather than shallow or empty remarks, I would teach them how to constructively and specifically respond to their peers’ blog postings. These lessons would emphasize the importance of providing substantive insights, asking probing questions, and encouraging healthy conversation to promote constructive engagement in the blogging community.

One Question I would ask my classmates is: How can primary and secondary teachers blend creativity and critical thinking in student blog content with educational objectives and standards?

 
References

 Hamilton, B. (2018). Integrating technology in the classroom: Tools to meet the needs of every student. 
International Society for Technology in Education.

Wells, M., & Clayton, C. (2021). 
Foundations of American Education: A Critical Lens.

Previous Assignment 2

Social media is a significant educational tools, although it has pros and cons. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest can improve teacher-student-parent communication and collaboration. They make sharing classroom information, resources, and updates easy and familiar. Nicole M. Zumpano’s use of Twitter to build community shows how social media may engage kids and foster a sense of belonging in the school (Hamilton, 2018). Students may become more motivated and engaged. Sharing student work and achievements on social media can be a useful pedagogical tool because social platforms have built-in audience engagement. Children who publish their work on these platforms feel more motivated and responsible since their peers, parents, and possibly a more comprehensive online audience can see it. This may improve labor effort and pride.

Additionally, sharing student work on social media can offer authentic learning. Real-world people share their achievements and projects on social media. Teachers simulate this real-world scenario to prepare students for similar job experiences. It also facilitates peer feedback. Social media promotes peer feedback. Students can critique each other’s work. This fosters classroom community as students collaborate to enhance projects. Peer feedback can offer useful learning. Moreover, students can learn public speaking and communication skills by presenting their work on social media, even Facebook (Hamilton, 2018). Any career requires them to convey their work clearly and engagingly. Aldo, students can use social media as portfolios. Over time, they can document their achievements and initiatives to demonstrate their growth. High school students preparing for college or work may benefit from this.

However, social media in education has significant drawbacks. First, privacy and security matter most. Security and privacy violations might lead to instructor dismissal (Hamilton, 2018). Teachers must be careful what they publish and how they connect with kids and parents online. Additionally, multiple school social media profiles might cause confusion, another weakness. As seen in the modern world, multiple accounts for different purposes might overwhelm parents and make it hard to obtain important information. Organization and communication are key to solving this problem.

One question I would like to ask my classmates is:

· How can educators use social media to protect student privacy and communicate with parents and the school community?

 
References

 Hamilton, B. (2018
). Integrating Technology in the Classroom: Tools to Meet the Needs of Every Student, (2nd Ed.).