Generation YES Blog

I have been so fortunate this year to see so many cool technology projects from our GenYES and TechYES programs. Recently I was emailed by one of our fabulous new TechYES advisors, Michael Russo from Heim Middle School. Michael had some great examples of what his middle school students are doing for their TechYES projects this spring. Some of his students have joined the blogosphere by creating their own blogs and embraced the power of blogging! His request to me was that his students would like some feedback, and the opportunity to expand their blogging network while learning from other blogging students. Keep in mind these student blogs were not created to discuss school gossip or be destructive in anyway. These students created these blogs to help other students by publishing their music and writing.

There is so much skepticism about what students might do when given the opportunity to publish to the web, that we forget how good and empowering it can be to let students learn from each other by using tools like a blog or a podcast. It is so refreshing to read some of the students’ posts and comments on these newly formed blogs and share in their excitement about helping other students using technology.

Michael has done a great thing by challenging these students to use blogging in a productive and powerful way. The students have proven that they too can network and receive constructive criticism to improve their work. The students have asked that people leave comments and feedback regarding their blog so please check them out and leave your thoughts.

One of the students, Jenni, set up her webpage via google pages, and her blog is linked from here:
http://merely7003.googlepages.com/

Another student, Brianna, has set a blog to create a writer’s community:
http://callingallauthorz.edublogs.org/

A third student, Justin, set up his blog to talk about current events:
http://currentlife.edublogs.org/

Keep it up TechYES students, and remember, “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” Ray Kroc

MeganE

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 8:15 pm and is filed under Generation YES. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.