Karla Erdman, writer
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Online Conferences

4/13/2012

6 Comments

 
I do a lot of conferencing online with students. I think it is valuable, it is hip, and it allows flexibility.
First, it is so important for me to collaborate with my students because that is how they learn. It is not by the direct instruction I do, but by the one-on-one instruction and interaction. "By inserting comments directly into the document you are reading, you offer the writer a chance to go back to those comments over and over again" (Hicks 38). This is so true because as we all know, we don't always remember what someone says verbally; we need it written. Thus, the written feedback is so valuable.

Additionally, using the technology is hip. Right now, if you start using the technology and teaching the students, you ARE the expert in the classroom. I have students creating websites. They have TONS of questions; they don't know as much as the experts think they do. Yes, they are very creative, and yes, they have the ability to do fantastic things. However, they don't know HOW to do them using technology. My journalism students are so engaged each and every day while they are creating their websites. They are not grousing about writing; they are embracing it because they are doing it in such a unique and modern way.

Finally, conferencing online allows me flexibility. I can comment on a document during my prep, at night, or on the weekend. If the student goes online anytime after that, s/he will see my feedback, and it is immediate. No longer do students have to wait for you to pass back papers. Additionally, if you see the same issues with many papers, you can copy and paste the comment. You can't do that when you are handwriting the comments.

As you all know, I embrace technology. I don't claim to know everything, but I do know a lot. However, I am always learning more. I think the key is to pick one thing that you think will enhance your students' learning, and then become an expert at the one thing. You can always add other items along the way, but I think it is easier to stick with one thing until you are so comfortable that you can add other items. For example, I am having my journalism students create websites, which is new to me, but I only have 9 students. Conversely, I have 55 English students, so I don't have them creating the websites until I know exactly what I want them to create and why. Will I eventually have my English students creating websites? Maybe. Maybe not.
6 Comments
Melissa S
4/14/2012 11:27:26 am

Hi Karla.
That one on one interaction with students is so important and I agree with your comment regarding the written feedback. I need it at my age since my memory fails me often, but it is extremely helpful for those students who jump from one thing to another. They can go back to our posts, since we know they don't listen to what we say very often, and begin to improve their writing. I am sure you see it as beneficial with the older kids.
Technology is SO hip! It is what attracts kids these days and we as teachers need something to grab their attention and keep it.

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Pat link
4/14/2012 11:46:51 pm

I loved this part of the chapter and it made me think back to the (crazy) things I have done. When the students first began using Word I would go into their pieces and use strikeouts, highlighting and font colors to revise/edit the work. They would be a little confused at first because it was new, but quickly adjusted to the revising process. I could see changes, because until I went back in my comments remained until I checked the work again.
Using the Web Tools is so much less cumbersome. But, as I posted on my blog getting it all set up and having young students become agile at maneuvering around will be the challenge. Even if I develop the process to as basic as it can be, it will still be new and take some time. I love the Google Docs idea for storage so I can review and comment at any time from any place and that is what I hope to be able to run a trial and set up for next year. I'll know who to blog if I get stuck!

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Karen Rose
4/15/2012 08:43:17 am

So glad to have you as a resource, Karla. Online conferencing is the way to go, and what I love is the potential to actually give timely feedback, which I end up lamenting each year. Finally, with the online tools, I should be able to do what is so important to the writing process: timely and meaningful commentary, helping my students improve writing skills. Thank you for sharing its value.

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Linda Moyer
4/16/2012 02:43:08 am

Conferencing on line is certainly a great tool and sounds like you use it well. I certainly enjoyed Nancy's immediate feedback when we sent her journal entries and assignments. This certainly allowed me to feel that she cared about what I was doing. Does on-line conferencing require much technology management? The relationship that is built through this tool is great, and you are so right when you this tool is hip. I see the same at BAVTS with engagement when using technology. I also enjoyed your thoughts on becoming an expert. We all need to take one step at a time and learn beside our students.

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Mary Rose
4/16/2012 04:26:51 am

Karen Rose - I, too, lament the lack of time for "timely" feedback on student writing. We've had that discussion many a time. Will on-line tools really make it easier for me to collaborate and discuss work with them? I still have to fit the time in to READ the student's work, comment on it, and publish it/return it to them. There aren't enough hours in the day....

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Liz C
4/16/2012 01:03:21 pm

Karla,
First of all - I love the blogging image on this page and you need to tell me where I can find it :)
I agree with many points in your post and especially like how you acknowledge that students may be plugged in and tech-savvy, but they are still learners with many tools we utilize. It takes time - hands-on, exploratory, trial-and-error time - to master these tools. I know this from my own learning and I see it with students young and old. What to do when we are all so short on time? An advantage of online tools is that students can access them outside of school hours, we hope. And as you say, they're embracing the digital writing and usually motivated to play around on their own.

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    This blog page was ORIGINALLY created for my EDUC 463 The Internet and K-12 Education course at Penn State Lehigh Valley. However, as I was re-vamping my website in the spring of 2014, I decided to continue to utilize the blog, but more for personal purposes.

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