Above is a screen shot of the amount of hits I was receiving after the first day of the new school year. Notice all the hits are from the local community in which I teach (Fayetteville/Springdale, AR). This is exactly why I blog.When I first started blogging almost a year ago, I was unsure of what exactly my key focus for blogging was. As I continued to grow and develop I realized that it should be used to connect a community of learners. Share ideas with educators, students, parents, and teachers. School is much more than a 8-3 job and should be treated that way. This can be reached through the use of technology inside and outside of the classroom.
This past week I have fallen under great criticism for my use of technology in my classroom and have really become discourage about the whole ordeal. However, after having such a visual as I do at the top of the page and hearing the positive feedback from my student's parents.....it is very clear to me there is a market for educational blogging and it really does help build a stronger community of learners.
Mr. McClung
http://jkmcclung.edublogs.org
2 comments:
Grrr... I really feel like swearing right now. Sad to hear you've come under fire for your classroom use of technology, but I can't imagine what the naysayers are using for ammunition. Class and educator blogs are a valuable tool in and out of the classroom and help foster a real community feeling among parents, students and teachers. Let the positive support from parents outweigh the criticism and keep doing what you're doing.
You're right - school is more than 8-3 (or 9-3 here in NZ)and the classroom walls are slowly being eroded, opening up and extending learning opportunities for everyone involved. To deny students access to this is to hobble their education, blinker their vision and stifle their voice.
Mr. McClung, so sorry to hear you have come under fire for your use of technology. I am glad to hear that the parents are backing you up on this though. Keep up the good work and do not let the naysayers get you down. And yes, learning is not a timed event.
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