Each new assigned post will be added on a Monday. You must make your first original post in response to the comment by Wednesday evening at 11:59pm. Your original post must be thoughtful, clear and adhere to the rules of our blog site. You should respond to the post and include at least one source (news article, website, etc.) that backs up your comments. Please cite your source in your post so others can view the information that you found.
Part 2 of the assignment: AFTER you have made your original post(Thursday or Friday), you should read the posts of others and reply to at least two comments of your classmates. Comments should use correct spelling, punctuation and grammar (no chat language). Please be complimentary to the author, ask them questions about their comment, and add information that is relevant to their comment.
Please complete part two by Friday evening at 11:59pm. Don't forget to check your comments! If someone asks you a question they would like to get an answer!
Sometimes you may have trouble getting the blog to show or post comments. Usually if you "delete cookies" on your computer or smartphone it works. You can do this where you would delete your browsing history. Ask if you don't know how to do this. I always recommend typing longer posts in a word document and then saving it. You can copy and paste it into the blog. That way you have a saved copy in case something happens when you try to publish.
Safety:
- Only use first names of the students in our class, yourself included.
- Use common sense when it comes to safety. Never give away your location, home alone, etc.
- DO NOT give out any personal information or information about others.
- Do not post pictures of you, your friends, other students, parents or siblings unless instructed to do so. Pictures relating to our discussion are definitely encouraged!
- Follow all school and classroom rules.
- Never be unkind or inappropriate with your fellow bloggers.
- If an uncomfortable or frightening situation does occur, inform your teacher immediately.
Your first assignment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please read the blogging information that I have posted for you. Make a comment on this post by Wednesday evening at 11:59pm. Please ask any questions that you may have about how to use this blog. Also include your comments about blogging in the classroom. What advantages do you see with using blogging in the classroom? What disadvantages do you see with using blogging in the classroom? Is there anything in Biology that you think would make a great topic? Next, you need to respond to the comments of two of your classmates by Friday at 11:59pm. They must be different classmates. Remember...this week's assignment is as much about learning for me as it is for you. If you run into any speed bumps, let me know asap! This assignment this week will be worth 20 points. You receive 10 for your original post and 5 for each of the two comments to classmates you make.
How to comment: Think about what you want to say and click at the bottom of the post where it mentions comments. Type your comment and where it says "comment as:" you must click on the drop down menu to where it says Name/URL. Type in your first name only and then click the submit button. Go ahead and publish your comment. It will have a time stamp on it so I will know when you commented. That's all!
How to comment: Think about what you want to say and click at the bottom of the post where it mentions comments. Type your comment and where it says "comment as:" you must click on the drop down menu to where it says Name/URL. Type in your first name only and then click the submit button. Go ahead and publish your comment. It will have a time stamp on it so I will know when you commented. That's all!
I am so excited to meet my new students! I hope they enjoy blogging!
ReplyDeleteI don’t have any questions on how to use the Biology blog. Some advantages, in my opinion, of blogging in the classroom are that we will get to see other classmate’s opinions. It may give others some insight on a different way of thinking about a certain topic. Another advantage would be that all the information is in one place and easy to access. A disadvantage might be that someone could get rude because they are behind a computer screen. I’m really interested in genetics so anything dealing with that would be cool to learn more about.
ReplyDeleteI happen to agree with you Jessica; this is a great way to see our peer's opinions on certain topics related to biology! Also, like you said, all of this information would be on one easy site. Only thing I happen to dislike about this is two things. One thing being that not everyone has internet at an easy access. Even though that is a small problem that can be fixed easily by using school computers inside the media center, this is still a concern to me. As well as that, I happen to like organized topics and threads. I don’t know precisely if this “blog” has the option for creating different threads/topics for easier viewing and commenting, but that would be an easier way of communicating about biology. I just might be stuck on the idea of “forums”, but it seems to be easier to me for the use of organization. Other than that, I hope this school semester goes well for all of us!
DeleteThe point I especially like here is the possibility to see a different view on a topic with the opinion of others. This is far better than to just read text from a book.
DeleteI think using the blogging website will be very helpful. An advantage will be we can hear other classmates opinions, and teenagers are used to using computers. We can learn new ways to think and learn from each other. A disadvantage would be that some students don't have access to technology as easily as others, making it difficult for them to complete this. Some fun topics would be animals and plants. I'm so excited to be using this website.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about your disadvantage because some students would not have easy access to technology. They will have to do things different then people with very easy technology access.
DeleteI agree that hearing the opinions of fellow classmates is an advantage. I think the topic of animals is interesting as well! I can't wait to learn!
DeleteI currently have no questions on how to use a blogging website, and just see it as a good way of communication. Advantages would be the ease of hearing different opinions and thoughts on your comments as well as the internet right here if it is needed. I don't see many disadvantages, possibly internet issues or maybe an unlikely bug. As for topics, unusual and interesting evolutionary traits sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteI would agree in that blogging will be a great way to share our opinions and discuss topics.
DeleteMizuki, this can be a good way of communications between class mates who dont see each other out of school. Also we all can talk about class work and Mrs. Martin's assignments and such.
DeleteI think that using a blog is a good idea. As of right now this is my first time useing this blog and I feel that it isnt that hard to use! This is a great way of hearing what other students have to say and things like that. I can not see any disadvantages right now so thats good. The topics that I think that would be cool would be genetics and evolution.
ReplyDeletecourse with a topic like evolution with is a great topic there will be a lot of fighting
DeleteWell this is something different, glad to see that schools are using more things online however its also bad. Pros of using a blog that (I can see): It would allow class collaboration if someone needs help. If someone is sick they could get what ever they need from the blog and its a good way of getting info out. Con: not everyone can get to a computer or have it when ever they need it to use the blog. Other than that i don't see anything wrong with it. A really interesting topic that we could talk about would be evolution for sure.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, although I like to use computers better then writing, not everyone has access to a computer; besides that, I see no other disadvantages. I also agree that evolution would be an interesting topic.
DeleteIt is indeed a very refreshing change of pace to see more teachers utilizing technology. I think it is a great way to make that connection between school work and what students enjoy doing at home.
DeleteAs of right now I have no questions about the blog. But I do believe using this site could have some advantages and disadvantages. I think that having this online is a lot easier than writing all of this down on paper, but I believe this could hurt some peoples communication skills. Some people will be more willing to say things online than in person. So I think while having blog, we should maybe have discussions in class also. For topics, I enjoy learning about anything that has to do with animals!
ReplyDeleteI like the statement you made about communication skills and having discussions in class. I agree with that and think we will be able to still be social with our classmates. Great idea!
DeleteI agree with both of you about the communication skills. Although it is a great thing to be able to communicate online it's an even better thing to be able to communicate in person. In most jobs you will have to interact with people and it is important to do that well.
DeleteI liked it last year when we were able to share our comments and opinions which is the point of this blog. I think that this blog will promote a positive learning environment. I only have one question( I think the answer is yes), is that will we be able to share notes and assignments with people that aren't in class that day. Otherwise I find the blog an easy to use resource.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy sharing my opinions outside of school, and agree that it will promote a positive learning environment. It's important to learn to share your comments.
DeleteFirst off, I am very excited about biology class this semester. I have no questions about the blog website. An advantage I see, however, are the opinions of classmates concerning certain subjects we are all learning together. Also allowing the teacher to know how students feel about topics is a great advantage. At this point, I don't foresee any disadvantages about this blog. An interesting topic, I feel, is the evolution of man.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I do also feel like we are all learning together better by imputing all of our opinions and making them available to see by others. That way it can allow us to see how different people look at the same situation differently. I feel like it will open up our minds to different ideas.
DeleteI agree with you Kyle on the fact that now we can know other students thoughts about a subject. You might just feel the same way about it as someone else.
DeleteI too agree and think that the blogging will be a way to break the ice with each other and discuss things. I think that there will be so many different points of view from everyone and think that it'll be a good experience to relate to each others thoughts and opinions.
DeleteAt the moment I have no questions about the blogging. It most definitely is different then anything I've ever done in any class, though I think that blogging could be a good thing. It allows us to see the opinions on biology of our classmates. It also makes all the classmates involved with each other, that where classmates may not talk to each other much in class. The blogging seems interesting and easy enough to use. The only disadvantage I see of blogging is that technology doesn't always want to work properly and that could prevent us from being able to do our work on time, but it is good that if we have a problem with the blog, there is enough time to find another solution before it is due. Overall, I agree with the biology blog. A biology topic I would be interested in learning is the evolution of the earth and the evolution of different animal species.
ReplyDeleteI do agree about finding time to get the blogging done before the due date.Some might not have access to the internet but we are lucky enough to have computers at our school and can be used to our convenience
DeleteYes Queren, I agree that having access to our school computers in a definite plus and makes the assignment that much easier.
DeleteWell so this is a bit of a first, I have never really done that much with blogs but I think it will be a good experience and a good opportunity to discuss Biology. First of all I think that there are many advantages with using blogs in classrooms these days especially since many students use blogs frequently and enjoy doing it. I think it will help make Biology more fun and therefore we will learn more from it. The only disadvantage I can see is that some people don’t have immediate access to technology, however since the school and public library both offer free access to computers, printers and the internet this should not be that big of an issue. After scrolling through a few of the posts I have noticed that there is some interest in evolution, I think this could be a great opportunity and would make quite the discussion piece seeing as how there can be such a wide range of opinions. Also, I have no questions at this time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and also think that evolution would make a great topic. There does seem to be a lot of interest in the topic and so many theories exist. I'd like to get to see how everyone views the topic.
DeleteI also like that the school and the libraries offer free internet access, i think its important that everyone have equal access to computers, internet etc.
DeleteStill things could get in the way of people getting to the computers or the school can be stubborn and not open the library at all for a week like they have in the past
DeleteJust like most of the other classmates I have no questions about the blogging. I think the blogging is a great idea because most teens are more comfortable on a computer or smartphone. Being a teen myself I am usually on my phone or computer everyday. A disadvantage of the blogging is communication. If we always use phones or computers to talk to each other we lose the skills to talk in person. Although it's not always the case it does happen. An interesting topic to learn in biology for me would be anything to do with cells.
ReplyDeleteI certainly have to agree with being so attached to my phone and computer! However, I have yet to stop being so chatty in person, and I doubt my phone or computer will hinder that. I also love the topic of cells and I think it'd be an interesting thing to discuss in class or on this blog!
DeleteCurrently, I have no questions about this blogging website. This is certainly a different way to communicate with all of our class mates but I think it will be a fun learning experience for everyone. Blogging is an easy way for all the students to share their opinions and cool, relevant things about the topic we are supposed to blog about. There are some advantages and disadvantages to blogging. A disadvantage for some people is that they may not have access to a computer 24/7 like some of us can. Also, another con would be that sometimes things can happen to computers and they can crash and lose everything you have done. Blogging, in my opinion, will help all of us collaborate and to get involved together as a group. I’m excited for biology this semester and am looking forward to what we will learn about. One topic I would be interested in learning more about this semester is evolution of different animal species or well anything that has to do with animals!
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology doesn't always work and can mess up at times, but I think that when it is working it is an easy way for classmates to communicate with each other.
DeleteI agree with the technology part. Phones or computers could mess up any time, but a computer or a phone to talk and communicate is a lot better the having to write it out on paper or something like that.
DeleteYou are right, it is VERY different. Some students may be new to the "blog experience" and may take students a few times until they fully get the hang if it. However, it is a very good way to get to know the people who work around you and how they feel. I also like the topic of evolution!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, it is VERY different. Some students may be new to the "blog experience" and may take students a few times until they fully get the hang if it. However, it is a very good way to get to know the people who work around you and how they feel. I also like the topic of evolution!
DeleteForgot to put my name above!
I don't have any questions about blogging. I feel like blogging is a great way to get students to open up for discussion, when sometimes they are uncomfortable with sharing their opinion in the classroom. A disadvantage could be that there could be some communication issues, as not everyone has easy access to technology. I enjoy the topic of genetics and would like to learn more about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement about shy students being able to open up on the blog. Sometimes it is easier to say something in writing. Also I would like to learn about genetics too.
DeleteI agree with you about it might be easier for students to communicate if they are uncomfortable to do so in class. It gives them a chance to say what they think if they cant do it in class.
DeleteYou have great points, Kyra. Especially the one about being uncomfortable about sharing your opinion in the classroom. Good Job!
DeleteI totally agree with the fact that this is a good idea for people who are uncomfortable with sharing their opinions in the class room, but I think for their sake we should have discussions in the classroom to make them more comfortable with talking about their opinion.
DeleteI think that being able to blog is cool. I feel like it'll be a great way to share information and gain ideas from other students outside of the classroom. I saw this website and thought it was pretty cool and covered all sorts of sciences. http://earthsky.org/ is the website. I don't currently have any questions about blogging or biology class. One topic I think would be cool is the ocean evolution theory or something that has a relevance to the subject.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is a great way to share information. Great Job!
DeleteI have never used a blog before tonight and this seems to be easy as cake! This blog is very simple and easy to maneuver which is why I do not have any questions about blogging at this time. An advantage of using this in class is that we can find out cool teenage insight and also be able to give our own. This blog can very well lead to a certain "empowerment" of us teens and some of us may come out of our shell since we are behind a computer screen and not in real life. However, some students might take advantage of that and be cruel and rude which could possibly be a downside of blogging. Another disadvantage would be that since this can be accessed by smartphone or laptop we could be easily distracted by other sites and apps. I think learning about the formation of cells or evolution would be super fabulous. I cannot wait to learn this semester!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that we could become easily distracted on a smartphone or laptop! I know almost everyone has a social media account, and they could be a little more focused on that, then an assignment.
DeleteI doubt someone will be rude on this blog, but yes it is a possibility. I also do see your views on the blog clearly, same with all most all of the posts. The evolution topic is obviously a popular one, and I also acknowledge it as an interesting thing to discuss about.
DeleteI am very excited about biology class this semester. I have no questions about the blog website. An advantage is having it online and not having to write all this down on paper. you also get to work on communicating with classmates. I cannot see any disadvantages of using this blog.
ReplyDeleteI agree not writing this on paper makes it more easier for computer nerds!
DeleteI agree, it's a great way to communicate your ideas with your classmates. However, the ease of access for some students is a minor disadvantage that I can see.
DeleteI've never used a blog before but it looks easy and straightforward. So far I have no questions about blogging at this time. A potential problem might be cyber bullying those negative anonymous comments might be discouraging for some struggling students. Another not all families have access to the internet or even have a computer making it difficult to complete this task. An advantage is that we can hear different opinions about our fellow classmates knowing a bit more about there train of thought also its a great research tool that could benefit student. I think learning about the DNA and cells would make a great topic. I really like learning about the human body structure!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree Queren. You make a good points about the negatives and the positives.
DeleteThis is a very new way to talk and work in a science class, i think it copes very well with our changing society,the only question i have is how often we will have to post, and if it can be accessed by a mobile device. i think that marine biology would be a great topic to cover while we`re in biology.
ReplyDeleteI agree Walker. This is a great way for us to talk to eachother.
DeleteI have never used a blog before and i think it is a fun and safe way to communicate with the classmates.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a different way of communicating, but I also think it will be a fun way of learning about different biology topics. in my opinion I would rather do it on paper because I find it much easier than searching the web for things, but as long as the topics are fun and interesting than It shouldn't be that boring and difficult because its always easier to complete an assignment or comment on an assignment if you are interested in it.
ReplyDeleteI think this could actually help students keep in the loop of whats going on. Some students who are a little slower at understanding the work would be helped by a blog like this. You could read other comments and form your own ideas, and tell others about how their ideas could be useful. I think one of the only disadvantagease of this blog is that people who cant get on wont be connected to the classroom conversation. And I think a really good topic to go over in this biology would be about the biology of our own bodies. I know its a little bland and we most likly will covor it but I find it interesting how the body works. I have broken my clavical when I was in middle school. Ever since than i have been very interested in how the body works and how it repairs and heals itself. I hope that we can cover the topic sooner than later.
ReplyDeleteI have used blogging for English class last year and it was a good way to communicate with the class and listen to their opinions on different topics. Also, it will show the class' understanding on a certain topic. One disadvantage of blogging is that some people might not always have internet access. I hope this will benefit the learning of the class.
ReplyDeleteJoe, I can't agree with you more on the internet disadvantage. For example, I'll be moving to a new house soon that will not have internet. But in order to fix that problem, is to use the school computers to achieve access to this page and be able to research different interesting topics that catch one's eyes.
DeleteI think the idea for a class blog is great. Especially since students can access through their smart phones. It's also great for communicating with others if you have a problem or question with a topic or assignment. I agree that it may be a disadvantage to those without any way of accessing it or don't know how. One thing I'd like to learn about in this class is the marine life and what kind of species can survive underwater
ReplyDeleteI think that marine life is so unique and interesting. It would be so fun to learn about!
DeleteI agree with you Julia, marine life is quite interesting considering how many different kinds of living creatures are actually in the water. I personally don't know much about marine life and all, but I do believe it would be a great lesson to learn.
DeleteBrittany B. not every student has a smart phone, but this is I suppose, great for communicating with others. I just wish that this wasn't a graded assignment. I could see this more as a tool to communicate about biology and possibly help each other.
DeleteI currently have zero questions about how to use this blog; although, I did mess up with the rules of having one blog topic and two replies to a comment. Hopefuly we will all get this down quick and easy. As for the fact of the blog format, I think it would still be wise to use a forum considering how many students are present on the forum. Let's say, "If we were to have a forum instead of a blog, then topics would be much more easier to see (such as turtles, snakes, frogs, ect.)! Also, we would know what was already a topic and what wasn't a topic faster with a more organized webpage, such as a forum!"
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally on the forum, it would be a little easyer and it would be organized. And I was a little if'y on the whole blog thing myself but so far it seems like it really was a good idea.
DeleteThis does seem to be a good idea. Although, I am having a little trouble trying to find the place that tells us what to blog about.
DeleteOkay, I don't know what I'm supposed to blog about; so, here's what I am going to blog about.
ReplyDelete----------------------------------------------------------
The Grey Wolf
The grey wolf is kind of an endangered specie, they are hunted for their fur, teeth, and claws. There are about 7,000-11,200 wolves in Alaska, where most wolf hunting takes placed. Also, you might think that wolves only live in the northern hemisphere, and that is where you would be wrong. We have about 5,000-6,000 wolves that live between the middle of the US to the southern part of the US.
The average height of a wolf is about “.7-.8m” (meters) from the foot to the shoulder, while the length is usually between “1.4-2m”. Some wolves usually weigh between “30-50kg”, but they are known to weigh less as well as more. The average lifespan for a wolf in the wild is about “7 ½ years” Although there are those few who live longer than that and there are those who get killed before they are even 6 years old. Also, if you are wondering, these animals can be trained just like a dog; but, you have to remember that even if you train a wolf as a cub, it will still have that wild side for blood and to play/explore. Usually in the care of humans, a wolf can survive for about 10-14 years.
I hope you all enjoyed this small description about wolves and if I didn’t meet the requirements for the blog, my excuse is that I cannot find where the main topic is. Thank you for your time.
Since no one else has made a topic so far, I replied to two old topics above. I hope that is good enough.
DeleteParanthropus robustus, an early development of a human, was thought to be a "chewing machine" that fed on low quality plants. Using lasers to vaporize particles in the tooth enamel, however, contradicted this belief. Based on the types of carbon isotopes, the research showed that P. robustus had a diverse diet of fruits, seeds, roots, tubers, and even insects. Scientists linked this to why they went extinct 1.5 to 1 million years ago; because they couldn't survive the scarcity of food in Africa's changing environment.
ReplyDeleteNational Geographic