Change of Heart

Samantha McGrath

Module 2

Change of Heart

                As I have mentioned in my previous blog, I was very skeptical at first to the benefits of using the internet on a more permanent basis in classrooms. I knew the benefits but I couldn’t ignore the downfalls and risks that came along with it. While reading chapter 2, a specific quote stood out to me that helped my change of heart. It states that, “When students simply wrote in their readers’ notebooks, their sole discussion partner was their teacher, and opportunities for broad discussions about texts were limited” (Johnson 22). It concentrates specifically on blogs in this instance but I couldn’t help but let my mind run with the possibilities this could create for my future students. This is the first time I have ever used or written for a blog in my entire educational career. This is why I have decided to write about it because I can see how much it would have benefitted me throughout not only high school but college as well. Instead of just getting my teachers or professors opinions, I could have asked for advice from my fellow peers throughout the process of writing papers, doing projects or whatever assignment I was responsible for at the time. I could have been exposes to different views and opinions that could have essentially greatly improved my writing. Instead, I simply had my own view and the professor’s view. I plan on giving my students the opportunity to get as many opinions as possible. I also enjoyed reading how it would broaden discussions. Students could be assigned a reading task and then come together on their blogs and share what they took from the reading. The possibilities are truly endless as long as the teacher and students know how to correctly use the technology provided.

                I was also extremely intrigued with the National Council of Teachers of English framework list that was provided in this chapter. I wanted to discuss it because it raised questions for me that I had never even considered. For example, “Do students critically analyze a variety of information from a variety of sources?” (Johnson 23) It is sources like this that I can look back on when I am struggling with teaching a class of my own. I thought this was an important concept to point out to my fellow student because of how much it has benefited me already!