Third Quarter Reflections

This third quarter has been really different for me, as far as the involvement of technology in the classroom goes. I really like that we hardly ever use the textbook: it makes it seem so much more informal, and that makes it easier to enjoy English class, rather than have it be a chore to endure. I like the blogs: it makes it easier to write homework and to submit it. It can be difficult to post, though, if you don’t have a computer. I just recently got a new laptop, but I hadn’t had one for almost the entire third quarter, which really made it nearly impossible for me to post on time, or even to read the assignments. I’m glad I got the new laptop, though, because now I’ll certainly be able to upkeep my blog.
I especially like how we don’t have to write in such a structured format. That was one of the things I used to hate the most about English, what made me dread writing papers, or having any written responses assigned. Being able to write my thoughts out in a conversational tone, to be able to write down my thoughts as I’m thinking them, and not be penalized for the informal tone is amazingly liberating. It makes me actually want to respond, because I get to voice my opinions in a safe place where I won’t be ridiculed or anything. And even better, my friends and peers get to read my writing and they get to respond to it.
One thing that I might want to try to do later in this quarter, though, is that I think it would be better to have one more period of computer time. I like being able to have the time to ask questions as I’m writing the assignment, rather than having to just type up my response, ignoring my uncertainties. I like that we can respond to each others’ writing, but I don’t think responses should really be graded as much. I think a) its probably hard for Mr. F to read EVERYONE’S blog to see who’s commented and who hasn’t, and b) its something that should really be encouraged, not that’s mandatory. I think we should have started off with blogspot.com, instead of GoogleGroups. While GoogleGroups was mediocre, BlogSpot makes everything easier and more organized. I really enjoy this English class, and think other teachers should adapt to making their classes more technologically involved, too. It would make school easier to handle if everything were as organized as this class has become.