Monday, May 11, 2009
Enhanced global warming discussion
I think I would like to use a blog for my junior and senior IB physics students to discuss controversial topics such as “Enhanced Global Warming.” They are very vociferous on this topic, and we never have quite enough time in the classroom to discuss it as much as the kids would like to. The blog format would allow the discussion to continue for as long as students wanted it to, and it would perhaps fill out my lesson by making my students think more critically about the link between public policies and science - bringing to light the many sides of the global warming issue. I think the blog format might be excellent for many reasons. The first is that students might be more inclined to think about their responses and comments since they would become part of a “public” document. The second is that students might be inclined to do some research on their own, regarding seemingly obvious, or seemingly outrageous entries by their peers before posting. I might be able to enhance this aspect by assigning half the class to argue one side of the issue, and half the class to argue the other side. Thirdly, students who don’t normally like to participate verbally might open up more at home via the keyboard. And if we opened up the blog to an audience wider than my classes (say the school), we might liven up the discussion even more. The best scenario would incorporate the whole web into the discussion. There is always the potential of a scientist or politician entering the fray.
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Tim, I really like your idea about assigning half the class to argue on one side and the other half to argue on the other side of a topic. Just be careful about opening up the conversation to too many people. The whole school is a good idea, but when dealing with students, you don't want to open their discussions up to the 'whole world'. Blogger, the blogging site that you are using, has so many great possibilities for that and gives teachers lots of control over who can participate in your students blogs.
ReplyDeleteDr. L.
Another idea would be having two different classes blogging with each other about two different side of a topic. This might give more time to go more in depth on each side of the topic and letting the classes trying to persuade the other class to their side of the topic. Then at the end of the lesson the students are given the chance to pick which side they really are on.
ReplyDeleteLisa Lee
Great ideas Tim,
ReplyDeleteJust one thing you may want to consider: some students may not have internet or even computer access at home. I encounter this sometimes and have to make accommodations for it. I teach computer technology and have come across a few angry parents who do not allow their children access to the computer in fear of online predators. The cases are few, but it is something to consider. I teach middle school and I am sure this is not as much an issue at the high school level.
Thanks,
John Medeiros