What will students write about?

As I've been spending time reading more about the process of 'Reading', I have had the blogging initiative in the back of my mind.  The one document that I knew about which correlates between reading and writing was published by the Carnegie Corporation called Writing to read: Evidence for how writing can improve reading.


We don't have to try to invent topics for what students should write about.  Part of the Critical Reading plan ought to involve some writing response about the items that students read in their classes.  This seems obvious, but there will always be the student who will perhaps write something insubstantial, if just to get the writing assignment done.


So rather than describe suggestions for topics, I thought instead about what it would take to get students to write substantial responses to the discussions that we have in class.  By 'substantial', I don't mean lengthy; 'substantial' in this case ought to mean 'with substance'.  I realized during my learning about what other schools are doing that guidelines for 'substantial' writing already exist.  At SBP, we ought to look at some of these guidelines and adapt these into our content area teaching.


Read more after the jump.



One of the best sources for both guidelines and writing ideas is presented by an online discussion site called Collaborize Classroom.  The writers of this website offer several resources to facilitate discussions, and since these discussions occur online, one of the resources describes the definition of a 'substantial' written posting.  I am directly quoting the resource here:

"What Constitutes a Substantial Posting?

   Each posting should effectively drive conversation and motivate the other members of

the group to think more deeply about the topic being discussed. To accomplish this goal,

it is essential that teachers make their expectations for student responses clear before

initiating online conversations or activities. If students understand why they are being

asked to do something, they are more likely to do it.

   Explain that this classroom site is a forum for them to engage in conversations, activities,

and collaboration. If they actively participate in the online forum, it will support and

strengthen their understanding of the curriculum.

   It is important that the students feel that the online forum is their space and, as such, it

is crucial that each member of the class/group take an active role in ensuring a high

quality of discussion.

   Review the following with your students prior to their first interactions in the online

classroom site.

   A substantial posting will do the following:

• Present a new question for discussion to broaden, refine, or redirect the
conversation.
• Discuss a personal experience (i.e. memory, interaction, person, class, book, etc.)
that has influenced your perception of a given topic. Provide specific details about
where your ideas, beliefs, opinions, etc. come from to support your statements.
• Think outside the box or play devil’s advocate (respectfully, of course). Providing
another point of view on a topic being discussed can be both interesting and
enlightening, effectively sparking further discussion.
• Ask your peers for clarification on ideas that you do not clearly understand. Your
peers are your best resources.
• Make connections between the discussions taking place in the classroom forum to information learned in other classes and subject areas. Connecting what you are
learning to past knowledge or experiences will strengthen your retention of that
information."

• Share a resource that you have used that has been helpful for you. Use the

attachment feature to share images, documents, and videos that will add to the

conversation.

• Summarize the main ideas being discussed or presented in your own words to

ensure you have a strong grasp of the central concepts. This will support your

peers learning as well.

• Comment thoughtfully and respectfully on the ideas, experiences, and questions

presented by your peers. The more you engage with your peers, the more

meaningful the conversations will be for everyone involved. 

I'm curious to know what other Committee members think about including this resource, or perhaps an adapted version, when we suggest introducing blogs to classrooms this upcoming semester.  Please let me know.