Same here using Moodle and I quite agree with Charmaine's observations. <br><br>I create a quirky scitech chat forum where I post a topical quirky IT news item, often with an ethical twist or dilemma (e.g. tracking students with RFID tag implants or letting them airbrush pimples out of school photographs). I mandate a reply to my HOT (higher order thinking) question and they quickly assess and grade each others posts using some with pull down options. We had some great discussions about what makes for a good or poor contribution to a discussion or thread. Explained the digest option to help package posts into a single daily e-mail. Smiled when they started to grade my questions ;-)
<br><br>Silly posts fell away when I found a willing student moderator for a social forum where they could opt in / out of posts that I didnt need to constantly track, read or audit. Mostly chat about what was on the flicks, sport or burning fashion advice etc.
<br><br>Regards Roland<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 13/02/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Charmaine Taylor</b> <<a href="mailto:tigeroz@alphalink.com.au">tigeroz@alphalink.com.au</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hi Michael,<br>We use Moodle and all the students love to participate to see their<br>words of wisdom on screen, even those who can't spell! It's been a great<br>means of engaging all students. I quickly remove any silly forum posts
<br>(this can be done immediately) and remind them about ethical behaviour<br>and responsible use of IT, etc. I haven't had a repetition of poor<br>behaviour yet.<br><br>We've also just set up blogs for kids on our Moodle and I'm about to try
<br>that out too with my yr11 Media class but the forum is better for<br>getting all opinions about an issue or students to report on their<br>individual or group progress with a topic and enabling the whole class<br>to view them.
<br><br>Cheers and good luck,<br>Charmaine Taylor<br>Sunbury Downs College<br><br>Martin, Michael M wrote:<br><br>>Hi Charmaine,<br>><br>>What forum structure are you using? How has it been set up? Have you set your own up on the local server or are you using an outside provider? I'm interested in ideas. thanks for your input
<br>><br>>Michael Martin<br>><br>><br>>________________________________<br>><br>>From: <a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> on behalf of Charmaine Taylor<br>
>Sent: Mon 12/02/2007 11:57 PM<br>>To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List<br>>Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Blogging<br>><br>><br>>Hi Michael,<br>>I use forums for this and it does encourage students to participate.
<br>><br>>Charmaine Taylor<br>>Sunbury Downs College<br>><br>><br>>Martin, Michael M wrote:<br>><br>><br>> Hi All,<br>><br>> Is there anyone that has set up a Blogs site at their school for the purpose of allowing students to ask the expert (teachers) questions, and I don't mean just IT teachers but teachers across all teaching areas. And is this helping students with their approach to learning? I am keen to set up a blogs site at my school so that ideas can be shared and questions asked. I saw an example on the British Museum site where students blog questions to the experts. This would be cool in a school environment.
<br>><br>> Keen to hear views and strategies<br>><br>> Regards<br>> Michael Martin<br>> Copperfield College<br>><br>><br>><br>> Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education.
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead