Blog Post #3b Teddy Bears Go Blogging

Brenda Sherry, a second grade teacher, identified a learning outcome that drove her selection of a specific technology. Her goal was to improve second graders writing skills. She identified learning goals: writing work in small groups supervised by a teacher, independent work, reflection, editing skills and the appropriate use of an Internet blog. She provided added value to the teaching of writing skills by making it relevant to her student’s interest and learning styles. This learning occurrence was tied to student’s real experience which they shared with other students in more enhanced ways not available by traditional means. She empowered and motivated her students to develop ownership in their educational process which constitute a big learning motivation. Mrs. Sherry provided her students with skills to construct knowledge and use it for their continuous and future learning. She promoted communication between her students, students from two other countries and with students’ parents and relatives.

Security measures were taken by making the blog private also by checking the comments before publishing them. Furthermore, Mrs. Sherry made accommodation for some students with difficulty with writing or keyboarding to record oral messages. She monitored and supervised the students’ progress and achievement through out the entire project. This educator was involved in the integration and implementation of educational technology in her classroom. Brenda Sherry definitively follows the principles guiding teachers about integrating and implementing educational technology in the classroom. Of course, she probably was able to implement faster than any other teacher due to her 19 years of experience being a technology teacher.

What’s more, this project reminded me one of my daughter’s second grade elementary school projects: Flat Stanley. She loved the project, and it gave her another perspective of the world. The project motivated her to write more and not to feel threatened by writing itself. Mrs. Sherry Teddy Bears project is a technology-based version of my daughter’s Flat Stanley project.

I cannot wait to create wonderful opportunities for my students to learn and be part of the twenty first century. I know it will require a lot of work at the beginning, but like any other skill, it will get better with practice.