Blogging in AP classes

[Kimberly Johnson]

I would like my AP students (APUSH and APEuro) to begin blogging next year.  Some of my ideas are "Week in Review" for students to summarize main ideas from each week as a way to build their own study guide prior to the test, and a Q and A area where they look up answers to their own questions about terms/ people/ events in the text.  Do you blog with your AP students?  How do you assess their work?  What problems have you run into, and how did you fix those problems?

[Leticia Hallmark]

I just started with my 8th grade Pre-AP kids and have done this for 2 years.  We don't blog on a weekly basis though.  I created a forum for them to discuss reading materials with each other.  I'd like to use it to address our overarching questions for each unit.  The problems encountered are poor writing, not addressing the question asked,  and students trying to get by saying they "liked" the material...or "disliked it" without going into depth.  I'm in the process of designing a rubric that addresses these challenges as well as establishes a base line for publication.  Last year I had students redo and redo until they were able to express an opinion.  High-schoolers might not have these same challenges, but I would recommend having a discussion rubric before you get them started, and that you demonstrate what a "complete" entry looks like.

[Kimberly Johnson]

Thanks for the heads up.  I definitely like the idea of showing a sample.  In the past, I've put together three or four sample examples and had the students grade them on whatever the rubric asked.  They enjoyed grading, and could see common mistakes a typical student might make. Then, we can both refer back to their graded samples if there is a a problem with their work later.  I might try that with the blog responses.

[Leticia Hallmark]

I think that's a good idea plus it will teach them how to communicate using social media professionally versus personally. :)  Good luck.  When I have my rubric done, I'll post it for you.  I'm just taking a week or two off now.

[Carlos Fernandez]

I think of blogging with students more as a peer review. For an FRQ or DBQ I like the idea of them putting their answer on a blog and then sharing it with another student or group of student. They can then each give each other feedback on other resources that they would have chosen instead, or positive feedback on which resources they thought were a perfect fit and so on. 

 

Hope this makes sense.