So this is my very first blog, like so many of my classmates, and I must also admit that it feels a bit strange. I have never been one for journaling as I could never get used to sitting a writing to myself for any length of time, especially on a regular basis. So I suppose that the mandatory nature of these blogs may in fact help me to overcome that hurdle. Now if I could get used to the public nature of the blog then I would be set.
Being a high school math teacher, having writing as a regular component of the course does not come naturally. However, as much of the research and new standards would have, writing is increasingly important in the math classroom. Next school year, I will be teaching a new statistics course. Statistics requires much reading and writing due to its contextual nature. Students must not only interpret and analyze data, but they must also make sense of conclusions and report on them in cogent writing. That being said, I can see blogging as a way for students to practice their response skills in a open forum. This open forum can then be accessed by other members of the class. In this ways students get an opportunity to critique another's work and think on a higher level. The student also receives the benefit of having multiple opinions on how his or her work excels or could be improved.
Whenever I open up the forum in my classes, as I have done similar things in the past, I make it a practice to enact a code of conduct. In order for anyone to benefit from instruction, he or she must feel safe in the learning environment, free from ridicule, derision, and embarrassment. Therefore, I work with students early in the year on how to critique another's work in a way that benefits all parties. I see blogging as a mere change of medium and one for the better. However, as Dr. Ingram's "Nettiquete" piece describes, online interactions must be managed with care. I believe students can benefit from this type of medium, but care must be taken early on to ensure that it is beneficial for everyone in a safe and productive way.
Well, that's all for now,
Michael Coury
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