TechQuest Evaluation

My TechQuest is up and running! I am very excited about my progress and understanding to date. For this week’s blog, I will address a few questions about this endeavor.


******How would you approach another project of this type differently given what you’ve learned here?

I would approach this project with more confidence. I was really surprised at how well this part of my implementation went. When I introduce blogs with my students in the next course, my expectations will be different. In regards to expectations, I will not underestimate my student’s desire and ability to learn about blogging. They were very excited at what they could do.

While introducing the process, I gave little vignettes of how I felt about blogging when I first started. This must have helped the students more than I thought. I was amazed at how open my students were while creating their blogs and websites. Doing this project reminded me that each student is so unique in more than their learning ability. They each have their own opinions, strengths and a plethora of admirable qualities. During a few points of the implementation process, I expected them to be more hesitant like I was at the beginning (regarding safety and posting). When I started, I had a harder time writing my opinions and communicating personal things. I didn’t even want to use my name. This was never an issue, even with shy students. I was most please by my student’s reaction to their new skills.

I feel I would also divide the website creation and the blog creation into a few separate lessons on different days. This was my plan initially; however, we were all excited and went into greater detail, taking up about three hours of class. My blog lesson became a blog/ website creation lesson. I was encouraged at how eager my students were and kept introducing things as they were working at their independent level.

This is a project that is just going to get better every time I do it. One thing I would do differently is start earlier in the course. One way of doing this is by incorporating blogging in my syllabus. I think I might scare some students at first, but with guidance, they will have success. Now, I will have relevant, sample blogs to share with my students about what the expectation will be for them.

Even though my students were great at giving feedback, I would also do more lessons leading up to having them comment on posts. I did not think about how important this skill was in the editing/feedback process. After my blogging experience, I realized how important it is to encourage critical thinking when giving feedback.

******What are the lessons learned that others might benefit from knowing about?

I learned about the difference blogging with students can make. I saw first hand, two groups of college level students who were uncomfortable with most technologies, embrace the experience of blogging. They created a blog that increased a sense of community with each other and looked forward to responses from their peers.

Although the blogging experience was optional for a final portfolio of work, many students chose to turn in their portfolio as a blog. It was fun to read their work this way. They were so excited for me to look at it and share their sites with each other.

The most important lesson I want others to know is blogs offer a place where the students can support one another. Websites also allow a teacher to really get to know their students and lives outside of school. These technologies are impressive tools to use for the process and the product of writing. The quality of work was often better than if the writing was turned in on paper. The work was insightful, reflective and interesting.

******In what ways will you endeavor to do the same project again, and what will you change or not do?

I feel I could never replicate this project exactly. So much of the implementation was based on the students. What I said and how I reacted was in response to their discoveries. Each class was different and had unique needs.

I definitely think that using a projector, screen and Internet to show the students exactly what they were to be doing was very important. I found, that by doing it this way, I monitored the understanding and attitude of the groups. As I presented, I adjusted the implementation based on each group’s understanding. Next, The teaching strategy I used was to offer independent practice. I gave a lot of support to my students and encouraged collaboration among them. I would always do this when doing the same type of project.

Also, I would make sure I break down the process into small steps again. All of my students appreciated knowing the steps. For example, I taught them what a post was. Then, they learned how to create a post. Finally, I taught them how to post the post. It was important to clearly define every new term and each step they would encounter. I hope to always know what it felt like when I learned a new technology myself. This will help me to go slowly and clearly as I teach my students.