Blog Oh Blog - How to use it to advance AEE 412 and pedagogical knowledge?

As an instructor, I want to maximize and organize resources for the learners in the class for future use. One way I do that is to utilize a Blog.

A blog can be "leveraged" in many ways. To be frank; I do not believe I am doing the "blog" well as an effective instructional resource for AEE 412.

AEE 412 is the Senior Capstone Course in preparation for agricultural student teaching. The course description from PSU reads:
Instructional strategies and media; directing individual and group learning activities; assessing student performance and quality of instruction in agricultural education and environmental sciences

A core value I have as a teacher educator is building a strong professional/personal learning network (PLN) around our teacher candidates as as support scaffolding. Specifically, this mean growing the professional network of our candidates with current secondary agriscience teacher who will be their colleagues in the future.

With these thoughts, I am soliciting "Guest Bloggers" from across the state and nation on specific topics...we will see how it goes!

Do you want to be guest blogger? Here is the google form, Take a moment to fill it out:

AEE 412 Lab Update

Who sighed a big sigh of relief after completing your first teaching assignment for the AEE 412 Lab?!

You all did a great job!  Use each experience to learn and develop as a future teacher!

We are so excited to watch you grow and develop as you embrace each contextual teaching experience.  

A part of your professional and personal growth as a teacher occurs through productive reflection. Each week you will participate in reflection activities that will aid in your development. You will be utilizing VoiceThread to provide constructive peer feedback, and you each will be writing on your professional blog about your experience(s).   

I know things were rushed in lab, so I wanted to reiterate a few things we discussed.  First off, you need to activate your VoiceThread account.  Login at http://voicethread.psu.edu to activate your account.  Once you have signed in, log back out!

A private group has been formed in VoiceThread just for your cohort to upload videos and constructive, reflective feedback.  In order to become a part of this group you must click on the below link:

https://psu.voicethread.com/groups/subscribe/110953/35848d5e2/

Once you have activated your account click on the above link, you will then have direct access to the PSU AEE 412 Lab Reflections – 2014 Cohort group!

This year we are trying a new way for each of you to capture your reflective thoughts through blogging. Blogging is encouraged to foster a sense of community through dialogue and discussion to facilitate personal growth in your teaching.  We are requiring you to establish your own personal blog website.  We highly recommend you utilize www.blogger.com to create your blog website.

Here are a few things you need to remember: 

*You MUST have your professional blog website established by September 11, 2013.  A link to your professional blog must be sent to the lab instructor on this date.

*You will post your reflective blog entry each week and email the link to the lab instructor.  

*You will be required to comment on at least five of your peers’ reflective blog entries. This requirement is to foster a tuning protocol in improving teaching strategies, classroom management, and student engagement.

CHECK THIS OUT...

Never blogged before?  Click on this link - 13 Blogging Do's and Don'ts
It is a great blog addressing the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of blogging.  I found it incredibly insightful and though it could help some of you overcome your hesitation to blogging!  Enjoy!

Please never hesitate to ask questions if you do not understand!  We are here to help!

I'm looking forward to working with all of you this semester!  It's going to be fun!