Blogging

In the article I read, the author explores both the benefits and the downfalls to blogging in a classroom. Most students he interviewed say they enjoy blogging and that it helps them learn in different ways. By the end of the article, after discussing the ins and outs of blogging and how it could be detrimental to an education, the author claims that he is in favor of blogging, stating that "it brings life to learning".

In the future, blogging may become very prevalent in the education system. It is already beginning to take a place in the classroom, especially with older students, and as it becomes more popular outside the classroom, it will quickly gain popularity inside it as well. As a teacher, I would hope to be able to use the Internet and blogging as a supplement to what I was already teaching and as a tool to help the students better understand the material.

Additional research could be helpful to fully understand whether the use of blogs in the classroom would be beneficial or detrimental to a student's education.

Virtual Field Trips

In the article I read online, the author described the benefits of taking a virtual field trip. He explained that they allow the students to enter into worlds that are not possible with a normal field trip; the students can travel back in time, or look at the microscopic world that they would not be able to see otherwise. The author also argued that a teacher cannot pull up just any website and claim that it would be beneficial to his or her students; it must be a highly educational website, and it must be given the thought that an actual field trip would be given. Some websites come as a package deal, while with some, the teacher can personalize the field trip to meet the specific needs of the class at that time.

The use of a virtual field trip would greatly enhance a student's learning experience. When used in conjunction with other aspects of teaching, this technology would be able to further a student's knowledge of what is being taught, and would supplement the non-virtual learning that takes place in a classroom.

I feel that virtual field trips would be very important to students' educations, especially in this era. Most homes have a computer, and it is important for students to understand that they can be helpful in their education. I do, however, think that virtual field trips could become a problem. If the teacher is not taking the time to make sure that they are fully prepared and that the website they are using is adequate, the field trip could become more of a hindrance, than a help. Virtual Field Trips should be used sparingly and in conjunction with actual field trips and classroom teaching.

More research would be helpful to my understanding of the topic, and its usefulness to the students. If I were to gain a better understanding about virtual field trips, I would be better equipped to make a decision regarding whether or not I would use them in my classroom.