After more than two years of hibernation, I am finally reviving this blog. Thanks to the first ever Senior High School students for inspiring me to write again. Their coordinator and teacher Sir Benny had encouraged them to create personal blogs to showcase their skills in writing, as part of their Core Subject Reading and Writing. Now, I have been spending my free time browsing through and reading what’s in their heads (and hearts).
I could never be happier. Although not perfect (YET), just the mere fact that these kids are writing is such a big leap. What a great way to use technology! It is refreshing to read essays and longer personal accounts by students in this age when we are so used to one-liner statuses and compressed tweets that usually mean nonsense. From tweets and status to essays. From Facebook to Blog. Now, isn’t this Growth Mindset?
Making blogs as one of the performance tasks is genius. This is authentic assessment at its best. The progress of a student with regards to his skill in writing, in composing sentences, in choosing words, is demonstrated article per article. And since blogs are saved on the world wide web, one can always go back to it anytime, like an electronic portfolio of some sort. Furthermore, it being public, with a feature where other people can see and comment, excites and motivates the writers to do better and not publish work that they are not proud of.
I have proudly put a link of the Senior High School students’ blogs to this page under “Kings’ Blogs”. Join me as I get to know them and explore their world through their words.