Websites

I have checked out many of my classmates websites! It is amazing how different they all are. Some people are really creative!! What especially stood out to me is that each blog really represents each persons personalities. Paul D's website, for instance, has dinosaurs on it. The picture, among other things, really expresses his sense of humor. Chia-Ti's website has pictures of her home town in Taiwan. I've been in class with her for a year and a half now, and have never been exposed to many things about her that her website helps reveal. Michele T's website reveals a lot about her career. I think Michele did a wonderful job incorporating class projects and making them her own. The websites are a wonderful way of getting to know a person's personality and gaining some insight.

Blackboard

As an educative tool, I really think blackboard is helpful! It is nice to have one place to upload all class documents (assignments, announcements, etc.) It is also a wonderful way for students to keep track of their grades (if the teacher so chooses to use this tool). I think it is much more effective than email in that there can be no complaints from teacher or students about an overwhelming number of emails being sent. People can check it at their leisure. Also, I love the discussion board postings. It's a wonderful way for students to interact with one another, ask questions, share ideas, etc. For instance, in many of my classes, we post lesson plans for everyone to use at the end of our semester. It is really helpful to have all the extra resources that fellow classmates can upload. As with anything, blackboard also has it's downfalls. The biggest problem with Blackboard is getting students to check it. Email is a bit more direct in that way, and blackboard requires students to be a bit more proactive about their learning. I can see that being a potential frustration for the teacher. Overall, I think it's a wonderful tool, and I may consider using it in my classroom one day!