One of the assignments I have in the class I am taking is to identify and explain how an educator can use blogging as a tool to teach one of the learning objectives listed in the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum (VSC). The VSC (technically and thankfully involuntary) is a comprehensive list of skills and concepts that students K through 12 need to master before graduating high school, according to the state of Maryland. While scouring the multitude of learning outcomes, which are available to browse on www.mdk12.org, I came across a writing standard that perhaps sounds easier to teach than it really is. It is listed as follows:
Grade 3, Standard 4.0: Writing
Topic A: Writing
Indicator 4: Identify how language choices in writing and speaking affect thoughts and feelings
Objectives
a. Select words appropriate for audience, situation, or purpose
b. Acquire and use new vocabulary
c. Consider the effect of word choices on the audience
I tried to narrow this search down to one objective, I really did, but this one stuck out at me for a couple of reasons. First of all, It concerns the use of language or word choice, a writing trait that my students struggle with daily. It is important to note what is nicely stated in objective a: that the use of language will vary tremendously depending on who the author targets as readers, on what the situation is, and on what the author wants the reader to understand from the writing. This idea that one can completely change the meaning or force of communication via the choice of words is critical, and it is one that many students have a difficult time understanding.
As I write this blog, ABC News is analyzing the speech that President Obama just finished addressing to Congress and the nation. I am happy to note that, as I sit here trying to compose my thoughts on word choice, the analysts are pointing out how this speech is different from recent speeches because of word choice. In recent speeches, the president advocated the signing of the new stimulus package because failure to act would create a “national catastrophe.” In tonight’s speech, he said that failure to act would keep the economy “stumbling along for another decade.” Both examples are bad, to be sure, but the former seems far more dire than the latter. Tonight’s speech was designed to be more optimistic, more hopeful.
I decided to go off on that tangent for a real reason. It provides an authentic, important example of the power of word choice. That very authenticity is what is needed to teach our students this skill. They need to interact with their peers through (dare I say?) rigorous, thought-provoking written discourse. They need to experience first-hand how the choice of words can cause enlightenment or, on the other side of the spectrum, misinterpretation. Objective c, the effect of word choice on one’s audience, comes to mind here. It is with this that I think blogging can be an instrumental tool.
The blog offers a forum for the common person to make him or herself heard like never before. It is usually free of charge and can be read by the world at large. This can be a powerful motivator for students to write, and to do their best writing. Blog posts can then be discussed in class. Did the audience understand what was meant to be written? Was there any misinterpretation? What word choices could be used to make one’s point come across more clearly or forcefully? Student blogging, coupled with active classroom discussion, can teach this particular VSC standard very effectively.
No comments:
Post a Comment