Martha’s Class Blog

So, why do we have a blog?

Because we’re cooler than other classes. Okay, no. Because as the youngest faculty member it is my responsibility to do hip, innovative things with technology in my classrooms. Okay, not that either.

There are really three big reasons that our US Overview class will be using a blog this year.

1. As a fancy-pants assignment sheet. Don’t worry, I’ll still do my best to hand out assignments weekly in class, but I’ll also update homework assignments on the blog.
2. As a clearinghouse of information. I’m a big internet geek (and from your Facebook statuses, I think some of y’all spend a lot of time online, too) and while I’m “surfing the ‘net” I often come across primary documents, YouTube videos, news articles and essays that connect to things we are studying in class. This blog will be a way for me (and you!) to share these things and for us all to discuss them.
3. As a way for us to continue our conversations outside of the classroom. To me, this is the most important thing a blog can do for our class. Even with block schedules, often we start discussions in class that we can’t finish. Or, sometimes, when you get home and talk about something with your parents or your friends, you might suddenly have a new perspective to share or questions to ask. If we keep our conversation going around-the-clock, by the time we get to class the next day, we’ll be able to dive in even deeper.

But what exactly are the “requirements” here (the “is this for a grade?” question)?

There are 16 of you in this class. This mod, each of you will be responsible for writing 1 starter post (about 250 – 500 words) and commenting on other people’s posts 3 times a week. Each book group will also be asked to summarize their discussion on the blog once a week – how you divide that labor is up to you.

Beyond those requirements, though (1 starter post, 3 comments/week, 1 book post/week) you are encouraged to comment and post as much as you’d like. In fact, let’s say “strongly encouraged”. Posting and commenting can be a great way to participate in and further class discussion, particularly for those of you who feel shy about speaking up too much in class.

Sometimes, I may also ask you to blog or comment your nightly homework, too. We’ll see how it goes.

Okay, let’s pretend its my turn to blog, what do I write about?

Remember, that one of our goals in blogging is to continue and create conversation. As the designated blogger for any given evening, it is your job to start up said conversation. Here are some things you could do:

• • Critically analyze the night’s reading – what is included, what is left out? Who is telling this story? Do you trust the author? Do you have lingering questions?
• • Find us a link to a primary source, image, map or essay online that connects to the reading. Explain your connections.
• • Make a connection between the reading we did tonight and reading we did earlier in the course. Or to something you read or talked about in another class.
• • Make a connection between the reading we did tonight and something that’s happening in the world today.
• • Be creative – write your post from the point of view of one of the historical figures – challenge your classmates to respond in someone else’s voice, too.

Do we haaaave to?

Um, yes.