Blog Lesson, Week 2

Lesson 2.0: Web 2.0 Evaluation and Integration

Lesson using a blog

Lesson activity: Using a blog to document the growth of flowers for science class
Use: document growing flowers
Directions: Students will use a blog as a daily journal to record their thoughts and pictures of plant growth (this lesson is used in conjunction with their science unit on plants). The language purpose is to practice new vocabulary such as stem, seed, soil, blossom, and leaf in the written modality. The activity is to help them understand how to grow things in order to encourage them to grow gardens of their own later on.

This lesson is for elementary beginner-level students. As the teacher I would set up the blog and help them to get into it. If spelling is a huge challenge, I would let them dictate to me and I would do the typing initially.

The students would be able to see a projector screen as I explain the use of the blog. I would have one prepared of a topic we have already covered (using days of the week or something very basic). I would re-explain the idea of a journal and how each day we will be adding to our blog to let other people know what is going on.
Their main purpose is to recognize the new vocabulary words and demonstrate correct usage via their journal entries.

Review:
1. I would use the blog as the resource to show the students how a blog works and to get their excitement and motivation going as they see their own work showcased on the blog. The use of a blog can later be used in other classes or when collaborating with other teachers.
2. The application and format of this lesson are appropriate because children today need to be introduced to technology, regardless of their language level. By doing a class blog together, the students will be learning gradually and with my supervision (as opposed to being told to do their own blog). By encouraging the use of the new vocabulary, target language is achieved. Level of authenticity is high because it is a project the students are doing themselves and it is their own flowers, their own planting. Interest level is high as they will get the see their plants from seed to blossoming flower. The motivation is high because they will be anxious to help each other with the blog postings. I can choose to elect one student per day or a group per day for the ‘official’ posting; this fun yet slightly competitive angle will certainly motivate the kids to accurately learn the terms.
3. The format, organization, design and language level are appropriate for instructional goals as it will enhance their learning and give the students a strong feeling of accomplishment when they log on and can see their own work. The language level will be basic but as these are beginners, this meets the criteria.
4. Potential problems are always technological issues such as computers being down. If that occurs, the students and I can write with pencil and paper what we would like to put on our blog (if the computers come back up, I could go in and submit the entry). Language based problems could occur with computer terms: ‘log on’ can be confused with a ‘log,’ ‘submit’ will be a new word, etc. I will have to pre-teach the vocabulary for the blog and be prepared to re-teach the vocab. numerous times.