Final Reflection

Before taking CSE 694, I was thinking of having a classroom blog so when I heard that this class was offered I signed up for it right away to learn more about blogging and to see what I was thinking about getting in to.  I realized that setting up a blog was the easiest thing to do, and managing the blog the hardest.  

A classroom blog is still something that I would like to offer my students.  I envision a blog site in which I post announcements, assignments, a help forum, a discussion forum, and a site where I posted additional material that students may find interesting or adds to material covered in class.  The videos that I have posted on Spanish speaking countries is something I would like to continue to do to expose students to culture, traditions, history, art, music, language, geography, and the many wonders a particular country has to offer.  I’m also thinking of including a Spanish Word of the Day to expand students’ vocabulary. 

I have learned that blogs have so many benefits and in the field of education blogs can be effective as it creates communities of learning, creates interaction, collaboration, and improves communication. 

As I have mentioned before my vision is to create a bilingual blog, where we can express our voices [nuestras voces], share our knowledge, create awareness, and increase communication across borders.   

¡So Let’s Talk Español!

Son Jarocho, musical style of Veracruz, Mexico

The instruments most commonly associated with Son Jarocho are the jarana jarocho, a small guitar-like instrument for a harmonic base; the requinto jarocho, a small guitar-like instrument for higher pitch; the arpa jarocha, a harp; and percussion instruments such as pandero, a tambourine; cajón, a box percussion; and a quijada, an instrument made of a donkey jawbone.

Marketing Blog

I have 221 hits on my page, well at least some people are coming across my blog.  The question is, how do I advertise my blog to readers?  First of all my readers will be students in my classes.  Parents, community members, and educators would be my secondary readers, and third; the rest of the world that may be interested.

On the class syllabus I intend to include the address to my blog for students to have access to.  As I have mentioned before, the purpose of this blog is to provide additional material, help forum, discussions, announcements, and assignments.  Students can visit the blog and find what they need.  A letter to parents will be sent home informing them about the classroom blog and are encouraged to visit to stay involved and have an idea on what goes on in the classroom. 

On some district websites I have noticed that teacher’s blogs are included.  This is something I would be interested in as it creates another advertising source.

From some research I have done on how to advertise blogs, it is suggested that you join bloggers forum, visit other blogs, use your blog site link in your e-mail signature, use Facebook or submit blog site link to search engines such as Yahoo or Google.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is located in the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. Christopher Columbus reached the Dominican Republic in 1492. Santo Domingo became the country's capital.

Blogs en la clase de español

How will I use blogs in the classroom? 

First of all, assignments and announcements will be posted for students and parents to view.  Students, parents, and educators are encouraged to join our classroom discussion. 

Misunderstand something in class?  Questions?  No hay problema. Students will be able to leave a comment and as the teacher I will reply back.  Classmates can also help out by clarifying something not understood. 

In la clase de español, students learn how to communicate, but at the same time learn about Spanish speaking countries; history, culture, dialects, traditions, art and so much more.  I plan on using this blog to post short video clips that introduce students to Spanish speaking countries.  Students will be exposed to the language, culture, and history of various Spanish speaking countries.

Mar del Plata, Argentina

Mar del Plata is located in Argentina, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean south of Buenos Aires. It is one of the major fishing ports.

Santander, Spain

Santander is located on the northern cost of Spain. My younger sister studied here last year.

Some history, culture, and traditions

There is this TV program on Galavisión; a Spanish channel called Un Destino, DISH Network viewers channel 833, Saturdays 9PM/8 Central.  Each week Un Destino introduces countries and cities all over the world, including Latin American countries and cities.  The purpose of this program is to expose viewers to culture, history, and traditions.

I wanted to add clips of Un Destino to my blog, but I would not find videos.  But I found something else that does something similar as Un Destino.

To my blog, every few days I am going to add short clips of Latin American, Spanish speaking countries and cities.  Watch for this week’s videos.

Articles - blogs in education

Here are some articles that I found on blogs in education.

Improving Interaction Through Blogs in a Constructivist Learning Environment – Cuhadar, Cem and Kuzu, Abdullah

http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ886458.pdf

Blogs in Education – Huette, Scott

http://tep.uoregon.edu/shared/blogswikispodcasts/BlogsInEducation.pdf

The Use of Blogs, Wikis and RSS in Education: A Conversation of Possibilities – Duffy, Peter and Bruns, Axel

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/5398/1/5398.pdf

Teaching With Authors’ Blogs:

Connections, Collaboration, Creativity – Johnson, Denise

http://ezproxy.wou.edu:2058/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=122&sid=ac762178-4d58-4152-9b44-0d431051dc7a%40sessionmgr104&vid=1

Blogs have proved to be effective in the classroom therefore more and more teachers in collaboration with other teachers and students have been creating them for their classrooms.  Teachers have been using them to support teaching and learning.  Blogs create a community that create interaction, collaboration and improve communication.  Blogs can connect individuals all over the world therefore create learning communities.  Through blogs students are able to develop and strengthen their critical and analytical thinking skills and create their own learning environments.  

Teachers can post class information on the classroom blog such as assignments, announcements, and helpful links.  Classroom blogs create ownership and collaboration.  Students can post their work and offer peer-review.  Students reflect and respond to their own work as well as the work of others students.    

Blogs create awareness, address issues, and create discussions.  A class blog opens opportunities for students to discuss topics in and outside the classroom.  Students have a voice; they are able to share their thoughts and opinions.  

Bienvenidos - Welcome

Bienvenidos to my blog. 

My name is Patricia but you all may call me Pati.  I was born and raised in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.  I graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Studies and with a certificate in Substance Abuse Prevention.  After graduating from UO – GO DUCKS! I went to Puerto Rico where I attended Universidad de Puerto Rico- Recinto de Río Piedras.  I am currently a graduate student at Western Oregon University in the College of Education.  I am in my third term of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program pursuing a teaching license with an endorsement in Spanish at the high school authorization level.

I have created this bilingual blog so we as a comunidad [community] can express our voices, share our knowledge, create awareness, and increase communication across borders.  

¡Let’s Talk Español!