Although I've never used a chat room, this sounds like a good idea if done with the safety of the students in mind. Creating private chat rooms with password protection sounds like the best way to go. Especially with 1st grade students. As stated by Amy Grigsby in Alpine, Texas: www.epals.com, would be a great way to have students chat with other students. I would start with partner schools in the district, expand to the US, and then, possibly, other countries. It has to be done in a step by step process. Learning should be fun and geared to personal interests.
I like this concept and am going to try it with my 1st and 2nd graders next month. It has my interest, so I'm sure it will have theirs. Assigned projects using chat rooms sounds like a fun way to learn about others and to share their knowledge with each other. Partner classrooms sound like a great way to motivate and involve my students in a style of learning that conforms to their interests and is innovative to the district. Affording my students with the opportunities that the world of technology has to offer is inviting, exciting and something they are entitled to.
I agree that there is good and bad in using the internet with young children, but the good does out weigh the bad. One of the best ways that students learn is through peer teaching. Student to student, at the same grade level, puts the learning into their world. Many great things can be accomplished through peer teaching, with guidance from an adult (teacher). Give children a chance to do what they were born to do. Experiment and absorb as much knowledge as they can, because they want to. Let's keep them engaged! Bring their world into your classroom!
Response to Professor Luongo's Blog Sit - Article entitled "Let's Chat: Chat Rooms in the Elementary School" by Amy Grigsby (agrigsby@alpine.esc18.net)
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Marianne,
You claimed, "Partner classrooms sound like a great way to motivate and involve my students in a style of learning that conforms to their interests and is innovative to the district."
How true! Doesn't everyone like to share ideas and "meet" new people? And in today's world and with use of technology, students can meet students not only in their communities, but all over the world.
Thanks for responding!
Marianne,
I completely agree with many of the points you made regarding chat rooms. I'm not sure if you logged onto the website (www.epals.com) and created a username, but if you did, could you help me out? Did it take you an excessive amount of time to enter into a chat room with people from the United States? I have a very fast computer and it took me roughly five to six minutes to officially enter the room. If you were able to enter a room quickly, how did you go about in doing so? I was thinking that this could become very problematic if the students are attempting to log in and it ends up taking more time than expected. I guess this is one of the many "joys" of technology.
Out of curiosity, do you have computers in your classroom, or would you have to reserve a computer room for the students to use the chat? Also, do you know teachers within your district that you would be able to work with? Let me know which district you work in and I might be able to help you find an elementary school teacher to work with.
Take care.
Mark
I am excited to see that you are going to try chats with your first and second graders! You are brave! It sounds like you have a good idea of how to make it a safe and valuable experience for them. Please make sure you keep us updated in your blog as you plan for and execute this activity!
I am excited to hear that you are going to try chats with your first and second graders! You are brave! It sounds like you have really considered how to make it a safe and valuable activity. Please keep us updated on your blog as you plan for and execute this activity!
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