Evaluating your own digital learning

Because there are so few participants this round, your commitment to the discussion is heightened. Eric is the only participant this round who also participated last round, so my expectations for his involvement are that much more heightened. As we’ve discussed in class, the use of blogs and wikis to facilitate learning is relatively new, and therefore, requires constant critical evaluation.

As the teacher, I know what I hope the use of the blogs and wikis can do, but what I am interested in is the ways in which students themselves  see the usefulness of technology-aided classrooms.  Here’s where you guys can not only participate as recipients of a crazy teacher’s ideas, but actually step in and help mold the way teachers in general will or will not use technology in the future.  So, while your weekend requirement is two posts, I’d encourage you to post as many times as makes the discussion a success.

Here of some potential questions you might explore (of course, I also hope you will come up with some of your own):

Does having too few participants in a blog discussion make the use of blogs counterproductive? Should I create a minimum number of participants and disallow students from choosing the Mega challenge if I don’t get the minimum?

Does the blog allow students to participate in discussions differently than they do in class? Positive/negative implications?

Does use of the wiki encourage students to think about technology differently?

Does use of the wiki allow students to display their ideas in more advanced ways?

Does it raise a student’s motivation knowing that “the world-wide” community can potentially see his or her work?

Do students engage their parents in conversations about what they are doing in class more often because they can “showcase” their work to their parents?

Mr. Pilkington, Mr. Frederick and Napoleon

Look up the the relationship between Stalin, Hitler and America and Europe.  Discuss they way Orwell handles these representation in the book. What were the true events of these relationships? Was Orwell succesful in his handling of these relationships? Why or why not? Support your answer–use in-text for outside sources.

Spark Notes??!!

I’d like you to go to Sparknotes.com and look up Animal Farm. Read through the sources on the site and then evaluate the site’s usefulness. Was there anything there that you did not know/consider? Is it a good source for people who want to cheat? Is it a good source for people who want to enhance their understanding? Support your answers with examples from the site.

Human Interaction

Discuss the role of the humans in the second half of the book. Who do you think they represent? Why do they begin interacting with the farm and stop trying to regain control of it? Why do the pigs oblige? How does this interaction represent some aspect of the human condition?

Symbols of Power

Beginning with Chapter Five wherein Snowball gets run off the farm, locate three to four symbols of power that indicate a change in the way the farm will function from here on out. Include page numbers and explanations for your findings–and be sure to discuss with one another the meaning behind those symbols.

Last Post for First Deadline

Discuss your feelings about Snowball–is he getting a raw deal? Is he to blame for any of the trouble occuring on the farm? Why did he run away? How do you feel about the humans?

Discuss Our Beloved Boxer

Who does Boxer represent? (Hint:  he does not represent a specific person). Why is his character important? Do you feel emotionally attached to him? Does he illicit pity or admiration from you, and why?

Friday, Saturday, Sunday Posts

*Sorry I forgot to post this last night, but the weekend requirements are to post twice any time between Friday, Saturday & Sunday. I think the discussion is going very well–remember to SPELL CHECK and include documentation for any outside source material.

Here are your possible topics:

A.  What is it about the missing milk that sets readers up to believe the actions that will come later on in the book?

B. Can you find a resource that talks about Stalin’s early years in office and find any early warning signs about his administration?

C. What are your thoughts on Mollie? What psychological traits does she possess that are counter-cultural to the ideas of socialism?

Old Major and Vladimir Lenin

Now that you have read far enough into the novel, you know that Old Major plays a crucial, yet short-lived role in the book. However, the man Old Major represents, Vladimir Lenin, lived quite a few years after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia which took place in 1917. Skim through the following link and identify any similarities you notice between the two. Next, talk about Orwell’s decisions as a writer to first include Old Major but have him die off in the first scene. Also, what significance do you think inclusion of the Battle Song holds for the readers? And . . . anything else you’d like to discuss. I think this is an awesome group,  and as long as you set the bar high for yourselves, you should have a deeply enriched experience with the novel.

I’m really excited!

Animal Farm Discussion

Right now, we have two signed up for the Mega Challenge–it can be done, but you will both need to be vigilant about not only answering the prompts, but also responding to one another:

First thing I’d like you to discuss is what you know (or you can do some quick research) about socialism and communism. What is the difference? What are the similarities? What are the key compononents? Who were the original theorists and philosophers promoting socialism?