One way I would like to use blogging in the future in my classroom would be in conjunction with the topic that I was covering with my biology students just yesterday. That topic being genetic engineering. Learning activities I currently use or have used with this lesson include assignments that allow my students to explore some real world applications of genetic engineering that are already being used to benefit society including the production of human insulin to treat diabetes. Though my students know that this insulin is produced in a lab somewhere, they until this lesson they are unaware that it is actually produced by bacteria cells which have been genetically altered to produce human insulin. Most of their previous exposure to genetic engineering has been limited to the ethical debates that get the publicity and many have the pre-conception that it is all bad and dangerous and kills fetuses and such. I have also had my students do internet research on genetic engineering and write reports describing their opinions on whether genetic engineering should be allowed or not or what restrictions should be placed on genetic engineering based on their research. Having them post their research backed opinions on a blog rather than in a report to turn in to me would allow them to then take what they've learned and discuss and debate the issue with each other and others on the web.
Blogging would also allow for similiar discussions and debates over other scientific theories they learn about in class such as the theory of natural selection and evolution.
Another way I would like to apply blogs would be in their lab reports. This would help to reinforce writing their lab reports in such a way that their experiments can be replicated should their results be published. This is an area where they struggle a little even though they are taught that for scientific knowledge and theories to become accepted scientists check each others work and repeat each others experiments and design new similiar experiments to further test each other's theories and deductions. Posting their lab reports to blogs and evaluating each other's reports would make their lab reports part of that scientific collaboration rather than just more writing for a grade.
A way I would be interested in using blogs with my Anatomy and Physiology students would be to help them apply what they are learning about the body to medicine and medical research on treating diseases. Although, I am a little less sure about how I would set this one up.
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Laura,
ReplyDeleteYour ideas have my mind contemplating the fact that knowing and using the language of science is not always emphasized in a world where testing and simply getting the right answer seems to be valued the most. With this being said, I don't know if at your level of science key vocabulary words are still taught. If they are, then you may want to set guidelines that students must use a certain number of relevant scientific terms to prove their points. This way, they can evaluate if their research truly fits the topic or of they should look in another direction to actively participate in a scientific debate. I think this would definitely improve your lab reports, and it would help attract scientists beyond your classroom to participate in and encourage the students of your blog.
Charis
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI think that it would be interesting if you had students work in groups and each group posted their research, theories, findings. It could also benefit yourself because this could be how you graded. They could have to post all of their steps. It would definitely cut down on 'paper' grading for you and maybe be a little less hassle.
Carrie
Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Yes there is a lot of key vocabulary in the level of science I teach, I do usually ask the students to incorporated their vocabulary into assignments and lab reports, so I would have the same requirements of blog posts. Working in groups at least on some of the assignments would be good. I do already have a number of assignments that the students work in groups on including labs and lab reports, although some are individual assignments as well. It would depend on the assignment and if I felt the initial assignment would best be met of groups or individuals as to how I would have the students grouped. From a classroom standpoint groups are a little easier when it comes to assignments requiring computer use as I have 10 computers in my classroom (well currently 9 as one of my students busted one of my keyboards this past week), so group computer use can be accomplished without having to book a computer lab. I have a few more ideas as to assignments I could make more meaningful using blogs. Mark's page gave me the idea to use a blog discussion in my beginning of course assignment on exploring learning styles. I also have them do some creative assignments that they could post and make comments on each other's assignments - although this might be better using wiki's or pod-casting(I'll know more once we learn more about these tools) as these assignments include things like travel brochures, cartoons, and power point presentations.
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