This week I started my new class called Facilitating Collaboration using Web Tools. I found the assignment on investigating blogging services to be quit useful. I really liked the this site called Coveritlive. Coveritlive is a service that allows users to cover events live. If there are speeches, sporting events or other live events going on, this service lets you post your thoughts in real time, so others can see what you are thinking about the topic at hand. It is very similar to instant messaging. As a person posts in real time, readers are able to post comments, which pop up like instant messages. I can see this to be an exciting way to get students involved with discussions. This services also allows the readers to answer questions to polling questions that the blogger shares. This services is free and can work in your school if you get certain school restrictions lifted.
I also like the book that we are starting to read, "Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms" by Will Richardson. This book looks into the many new tools that are out there to use in school. I really like the idea of blogging more with students and having more of a connection that way with my students. I recently made Facebook pages for 2 of my classes, and so far that has been a fun way of interacting with my students in a way I have not done in the past.
I did not dive in to Coveritlive like you did. Do you think this would be a way for students to travel online field trips and ask questions? I am not sure if it is done real time or if they would have to check back for an answer to their question. Sounds like a new and upcoming thing we will see a lot of.
ReplyDeleteYour idea of letting students cover your classroom exercises using Coveritlive. Having the students comment in real time would give you a whole new perspective for how it is being received. The only problem I could see is that it might be a distraction for the students. Do you have any ideas of how you could keep it focused on the information at hand? One way might be to let the students know that you will save and review the entire chat log after the lecture, so you will see all of their comments.
ReplyDeleteI recently started a new Facebook page to support our school marketing effort and it has been really successful in attracting "likes." It has also been a great place for prospective families to go and ask questions and often times our current parents and students jump in and provide answers before I can. I would like to know more about how you are using Facebook with your classes.
ReplyDeleteI also find your idea of using coveritlive in your classroom to be really exciting--although it might be a bit of a distraction when first getting started, I think it actually makes them more actively engaged in the learning process than passively listening to a lecture. Have you started using this yet, and if so, what are some of the groundrules you set with your students to ensure it is being used appropriately?
ReplyDeleteCoveritLive could be a fun way to get questions from students as you instruct. What if it was used during a schoolwide in-service.
ReplyDelete