meL’s Word

That is the question

Here are the two sides:

1. Students can’t be trusted, they might write something they shouldn’t so we need to approve every post before someone else sees it.
2. We have to give the students some degree of trust.  They are entitled to an opinion and they need to voice it.  Set reasonable guidelines and boundaries and they will be okay.

Me, I believe in the second one.  If you are trying to use this realm as a class project, you have to give students some freedom.  For me, trying to work with a queue is too restrictive – might as well not bother.  I truly believe if you set rules and stick to them (just like class rules) the students will do just fine.  Let them know from the “get go” this is a priveledge, they can be given a different assignment if they don’t follow the rules.  I have heard great success stories of students finding a voice when presented with this type of forum in which to speak.  The shy, the timid, the student who stutters – all become equal in the Web.

This blog is an effort to encourage teachers to use technology in their curriculum.  I am test driving WordPress to see if it meets the criteria set by some of the district’s administrators (like a queue for comments so inappropriate ones are not able to be posted).

Who knows what else I will do with this thing????