This is my first attempt of authoring a blog and my thoughts run deep.... (note title of posting). So much technology to reach out and grab, yet will I gain a strong enough foothold so that I can encourage, guide, and provide meaningful instruction using this technology to enhance student learning, success, and application?
Like most things that I do in life, I find the fear of falling behind the times as a launching pad to move forward, regardless if I want to do so or not. So as I begin my week at FRN I leave behind my insecurities and begin my journey of working with Web 2.0 tools.
I have a rough idea of what I would like to develop for my individual project. I teach Foundations of Education through our sister college Sinte Gleska that is located in South Dakota. One of the textbooks required for the course focuses primarily on the early experiences of Indian Boarding Schools. They Called It Prairie Light: The Story of Chilocco Indian School is certainly a meaningful text told by the recounts of students who attended the school during the late 1920's to the time of its doors closing in the early 80s.
My hope is to bring the story more to life by using a blog site in which my students can discuss their interactions with the boarding school experience as they read. In addition, I plan to invite them to reach out to individuals who can share their own personal stories and post them on the blog. Adding Flickr photos, podcasting interviews with elders, and RSS feeds would be other applications that I would like to incorporate into this blog.
I am unsure if my task at hand will be obtainable, but I am certainly up for the challenge :)
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Wow, Leah, you certainly have set a formidable task for yourself. Your invitation to your students sounds wonderful. The way you want to weave the past with the present is an important connection. So often, the students are not aware of their past and how it is so important to their current and future lives. My impression is that culture is very important to the population in your college. I wonder if that is true. Do the students feel connection to their history?
ReplyDeleteEsther
Leah,
ReplyDeleteMaybe these sites would help you organize the story you are trying to tell.
Tales of two communities before, during and after the civil war.
http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
http://www.slavevoyages.org/tast/index.faces
Good luck,
Liz
At UTTC we embrace the importance of the vast amount of diversity within our Native American student population. As an institution who is not located on a reservation we have 60+ tribes represented on our campus, each with unique traditions, values, and education expectations. We have both urban and rural students who may have had none, little, or many experiences within their Native communities. I can not tell you how much I learn from my students every semester - I am very fortunate!
ReplyDeleteLiz,
I appreciate the links and look forward to getting my Ethernet cord so that I can investigate them this evening.
Leah - this sounds like a great plan for using blogs with your students. By incorporating Flickr and podcasts - you will keep the blogging interesting and keep students engaged. Best of luck with this project.
ReplyDeleteBeth
Leah,
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are with us this week and I hope you go home with a lot of suggestions and tools. I appreciate all that you are trying to do and I hope we can help in some small way!
Jim
I am right there with you! I see so many possibilities to use the technology in my classes, and I am so pleased to be getting hands-on experience in the company of those who know more than I! I think your idea sounds awesome!
ReplyDelete