Bud the Teacher

Anne posted today on some guidelines she’s been thinking about.  The guidelines are great, but I really like the philosophy behind them:

What got me really
thinking though was that most of the guidelines focused on what NOT to
do like…….
 

• not use last names
• not plagiarize
• not post personal info like addresses or phone numbers
• not use profanity
• not use destructive criticism

It got me thinking about a
class I took years OK. The speaker was talking about all our NOT rules
and how that makes the students focus on what NOT to do.  I agree. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with
these NOTS but I think we are missing the boat. We need to focus on the
possibilities. I know. Here I go again on the possibilities but that is
the heart of it all for me. I really think blogs could be a platform to
redefine education. I want that redefining to include the voices of
students. Students really need to be engaging in this type of thinking.
I’ve found that many of them don’t know how to reflect and talk about
their learning experiences. Why would they? We haven’t really given
them much time for this type of writing. We haven’t given them much
time to talk about how they learn; it’s mainly about what they learn.
We need to change that. We need to talk more with our students and
really listen. We need to help them with learning how to express their
thoughts and help us understand the changing learning arena.

    She is so right on.  One spin that I like to make in my classes when students ask if they have to do something is that I remind them that they get to do that thing that I’ve asked them to do.  Some students roll their eyes when I say that, but I really do think such shifts in language can make a difference.  This positive approach is a very Shel Silverstein-esque way of thinking.  I like that.  Hope you do.
    Anne suggests several guidelines:

For students:
 

• practice writing their thoughts about what they
  are learning, what they understand and don’t understand, why it is
  meaningful or not
• making connections to their learning by exploring what others have written about it on the web
• contributing their ideas on how our schools could
  be restructured to have them excited about and believing that they will
  actually use the information they have acquired in school. What’s
  relevant to them and what and why do they need to learn?
• striving to improve your writing and take risks
  with expressing your ideas and bouncing those ideas off of a much
  larger audience
• providing a good model of blogging that will convince others that you are thinking and learning (and improving your writing)
• developing a distinct voice that will make a difference
• striving for writing that matters
• expressing your opinion but backing it up with well thought out reasons
• learning to collaborate
• asking questions that will make a reader think and want to comment
• realizing that inappropriate comments can be handled in such a way that negates their impact

I started this list with students in mind but it works for us, too. Another guideline to go along with the blogging:
 

• having face-to-face communication and discussions between teachers and students.

    Anne also asks for suggestions.  I’d suggest that somewhere on the list should be a statement about asking students to protect themselves when online, something like, "Respecting the need for safety for yourself and others."  But I don’t love that particular wording. 
    If Anne consents, I think I’ll add these guidelines, and those that follow from her comments, to my materials for new bloggers.  You should go and visit Anne and share your ideas, too.