Comments on: Student created web sites http://www.thethinkingstick.com/student-created-web-sites/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=student-created-web-sites Educator Consultant Author Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:34:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ming http://www.thethinkingstick.com/student-created-web-sites/#comment-2786 Ming Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:25:41 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=630#comment-2786 So true. I think it would indeed be fantastic to have a common forum where students, teachers, administrators alike can all post their thoughts and comments. An on-line can widen the circle of participation on a topic or an idea, promote potentially deeper thinking, and more fluid communication between the different segments within the school. Also, the appeal of having a common drop-box of ideas is to allow a consistently available arena for one to be heard. There are always things that would be good for different people within a community to voice, but suitable occasions don't always present themselves, especially in a school environment, where roles are so defined, and schedules timetables set and followed, and there may not be that much "water cooler" moments across the sub-groups. A lack of natural organic encounters between say students and teachers outside instructional environment may also make it harder for students to speak to "power"on certain matters. On the order of maintaining a civil forum, I do think having a moderator would be mostly sufficient. This has been frequently and successfully done on all sorts of forums on the web, and amongst individual with a lot less physical connections and real world relationships. Another idea for school communities is to have a common wiki project would be great also, maybe something on a cross-generational topic, like comparing the "then" and the "now", or brainstorm a preferred "future". They can even loop alumni in as well. This might be a good area to build commemoration activities of say a school's anniversary, or for honor certain individual that has made a lasting impact on the school community over the years. So true. I think it would indeed be fantastic to have a common forum where students, teachers, administrators alike can all post their thoughts and comments. An on-line can widen the circle of participation on a topic or an idea, promote potentially deeper thinking, and more fluid communication between the different segments within the school. Also, the appeal of having a common drop-box of ideas is to allow a consistently available arena for one to be heard. There are always things that would be good for different people within a community to voice, but suitable occasions don’t always present themselves, especially in a school environment, where roles are so defined, and schedules timetables set and followed, and there may not be that much “water cooler” moments across the sub-groups. A lack of natural organic encounters between say students and teachers outside instructional environment may also make it harder for students to speak to “power”on certain matters.

On the order of maintaining a civil forum, I do think having a moderator would be mostly sufficient. This has been frequently and successfully done on all sorts of forums on the web, and amongst individual with a lot less physical connections and real world relationships.

Another idea for school communities is to have a common wiki project would be great also, maybe something on a cross-generational topic, like comparing the “then” and the “now”, or brainstorm a preferred “future”. They can even loop alumni in as well. This might be a good area to build commemoration activities of say a school’s anniversary, or for honor certain individual that has made a lasting impact on the school community over the years.

]]> By: Angela http://www.thethinkingstick.com/student-created-web-sites/#comment-2785 Angela Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:00:16 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=630#comment-2785 My Response: As long as there were “moderators” or a way to make sure students were not using the blog to cut up teachers or other students and posts were responsible, I think this would be an awesome way to communicate. Sometimes people, especially students, are too shy to speak up in person. Writing could be a really liberating exercise for these introverts. It would also be a great way for students who were absent to keep in contact about what they missed in class. Again, however, I would just be cautious of the possibility that some students may use this gift irresponsibly. Kids go through enough bullying in person without having to experience it in cyberspace. Could they not use their real names? Could everyone sign some sort of form concerning a compliance with rules for using the site? Also, should it be optional? I agree…it could be dangerous, but it could also be powerful! My Response: As long as there were “moderators” or a way to make sure students were not using the blog to cut up teachers or other students and posts were responsible, I think this would be an awesome way to communicate. Sometimes people, especially students, are too shy to speak up in person. Writing could be a really liberating exercise for these introverts. It would also be a great way for students who were absent to keep in contact about what they missed in class. Again, however, I would just be cautious of the possibility that some students may use this gift irresponsibly. Kids go through enough bullying in person without having to experience it in cyberspace. Could they not use their real names? Could everyone sign some sort of form concerning a compliance with rules for using the site? Also, should it be optional? I agree…it could be dangerous, but it could also be powerful!

]]> By: Emily http://www.thethinkingstick.com/student-created-web-sites/#comment-2784 Emily Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:37:13 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=630#comment-2784 Having a website for any student, teacher or parent to blog on does not seem like a good idea to me. Blogs are good for sharing within the same peer group. If doesn't seem like a good idea to me because students might loose the structure of having the teachers and administrators as authorities. And if there is a dispute it is a good quality to be able to speak to the person of authority face to face. I think some students would take advantage of it and use it to complain. People are already saying that the upcoming generations are loosing their communication skills between friends and family by texting and AIM. Should we really give them the opportunity to loose real communication with their teachers and authorities? Having a website for any student, teacher or parent to blog on does not seem like a good idea to me. Blogs are good for sharing within the same peer group. If doesn’t seem like a good idea to me because students might loose the structure of having the teachers and administrators as authorities. And if there is a dispute it is a good quality to be able to speak to the person of authority face to face. I think some students would take advantage of it and use it to complain. People are already saying that the upcoming generations are loosing their communication skills between friends and family by texting and AIM. Should we really give them the opportunity to loose real communication with their teachers and authorities?

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