Thursday, May 15, 2008

Blogging (in) the Past

Thirsty for more? Hungry for history? Leave your feedback in the comments section.

1. What were your expectations about the class blog in August? Were those expectations met, exceeded, or unmet? Why?

2. What is the best thing about having a class blog? The worst? Why?

3. What was your favorite post and why?

4. What would you change about the blog? Why?

5. Additional thoughts?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I initially thought it was weird to be answering questions and posts on a blog for homework. I didn't really have any expectations, but I have grown to really enjoy the blog. It's a great way to collectively see peoples reactions and thoughts about a certain topic. My favorite post was the 80's post because it was funny reading what all of the teachers were interested in during the 80's and also the pictures of little Mr. Sinitiere. I would not change anything about that blog. I like how there is so much information with each post and links that you can do your own research with. The blog deserves to stay.

--Hayden Smith

Anonymous said...

I was really interested in the class blog when you first discussed it in class. I thought that it was an interesting interactive way to incorporate a learning atmosphere. I had expected to to be quite informative and it definately has been. I believe the best thing about having the class blog is how it globalizes history and demonstrates how it is still active in todays society. There
really is nothing bad to say about it. I don't really have a favorite post beause they were all unique
and interesting in there own way. As far as changing anything, I cannot really say if that
is necessary. I love how each blog taught me something new and how I was able to read the thoughts of my peers.
Kayla Adel

Anonymous said...

My expectations about the blog were exceeded because i first pictured a dull internet text that everyone would have to read and become part of a discussion. This turned out to not be the case at all! The blog was an entertaining site with pictures and videos about interesting subjects that i did not truthfully expect.

Anonymous said...

i honestly didnt know what to think about having the blog. i thought it was helpful because we were able to visit alot of different sites that without we would not have been able to do. i liked the 80s post alot and also the emmett till that the author also commented on. i think for the most part i wouldnt change anything. i would definately keep the blog.
chris duncan

Anonymous said...

I have enjoyed having the blog rather than answering questions from the book. I think that it is good for us to experience something different. Checking the blog is really easy. My favorite blog post would have to be the 80's one where all the teachers put their favorite things in the 80's and it was cool seeing the pictures of Mr. Sinitiere when he was younger. I am glad we are intoducing new things at our school.
~~Kirstyn Dominy~~

Anonymous said...

Mr. Sinitiere this blog thing is amazing!! From day one i liked it! i enjoyed seeing what you had to say each day and i also enjoyed reading my friends posts. Each blog was very interesting i thought. i thought it was really cool when we got to write and ask Devery Anderson questions about Emmett Till. I think that you should do that next year again! it was definately a big hit! besides that my favorite blog post of yours was by far the 80's. it was fun looking at the pictures of you and it made me laugh!!HA. keep the blog its awesome!!!!!

Kendall Shanklin

Anonymous said...

I really like the class blog because you can go on links that you can't go on at school and it gives you a different view of the situation. My favorite blog was the one on Emmett Till especially when we got to ask questions and have them anwered in a huge post. I think the blog should stay.
-Martha De Leon

Anonymous said...

1.Expectations – most of them are met but I would like to recommend that when we have more an assignment, that we go over it in class just to make sure that what we have written on the blog/comment is correct and that we can be sure that what we understand the importance of that post
2.Best thing – availability: we can go back and re-read for finals, read other peoples comments and get an idea about how they feel about the topic
3.Favorite post – the great depression/holocaust: it happens to be my favorite thing to learn about in history and everything I find out about that time is new and interesting, also I enjoyed all the art work that we have learned about such as advertisements, comics and photo-journalism
4.Change about blog – more pictures/videos/documentaries?? I am a visual learner and I just happen to like looking at the different photos etc.
5.Additional thoughts – I can’t believe we have you again next year…hope we can get some more puns (p.s. I hate the smart board…it’s not so smart)

SEH period 1

Anonymous said...

i liked the class blog cause it was something new and different. it wasnt just another worksheet to do and it was nice to not have to lug a book home for homework. i liked looking at the different blogs you left, they were helpful. i liked the one about the 80's haha it was funny to see what some teachers remembered from the 80s. it was also cool to see what my classmates said about each blog. i really thought this blog has been fun and effective!
JenGRAVES

Anonymous said...

Well, in August I did not use the blog seeing as though I switched at semester; however, I did think that it would be quite odd to have to do homework on the internet by posting on a blog. But, I have found this blog to be very informative and helpful. The blog allows me to see not only what you, Mr. Sinitiere, have to say about a certain subject, but also how other people in the class think on that subject. My favorite post would be the 1980's post not only because of your pictures but also because it displayed the many trends of the 1980's. I can't say that I would change the blog. However, I can say that the blog has every right to stay online. I belive that it would be for the benefit of the school if you did not discontinue this blog.
- Jesse Worsham

Anonymous said...

1. didnt have any expectations, didnt know much about it

2.i am neutral on the blog
3. 9/11, historical
4. nothing
jotour

Anonymous said...

i loved the blog. It is a good way to discuss events with people outside of class. It is cool that people can look up your blog even if they are half way around the world. Also I am glad that you could get some people outside of school to post and write questions for us.
David Jennings

Anonymous said...

I was unsure about the blog at the begin since I have never really done to much homework online before but the blog has been great. The blog is great for review, like when you post the review jeopardy or just reading the past posts. The best blog post was probably the Emmett Till post because of how much information was given on the events. The blog is great for our class because all high school students are frequently on the computer which makes the blog convenient. I think you should continue the blog because I will be in your AP Euro class and It would be great to have the blog for that class next year.

-Davison

Anonymous said...

When I first heard about the blog I was a bit skeptical as to whether or not it would be a success. Therefore, my expectations were not all too high. However, I must say, this year I have grown to love the blog and it has served a great purpose for the structure of our class. I've enjoyed being able to read my classmates opinions on various topics and then the following day enter into an open discussion regarding the posts and responses. Ultimately, my expectations were exceeded. The best thing about the blog would have to be the numerous links you've incorporated in each and every post. This aspect of the blog clearly shows us, as students, just how much effort you spend coming up with such unique posts in which you think we would ultimately benefit from. Moving on... Now, I wouldn't necessarily phrase it as "the worst" aspect about the blog, but at times this year I wanted a bit more structure. What I mean by this is... perhaps, receiving assignments with a few days notice (via white board in classroom or your teacher web page) as well as having a strict deadline for all blog assignments. My favorite blog post was on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. This blog was titled, "Going Down Memory Lane: Recollecting the 1980s." I enjoyed this blog, not only because of the pictures, but also because of the teacher's responses to your specific questions. This blog displayed a large amount of humor, which has become an essential element in our class. In conclusion, I will miss George's puns, Mary's use of the Smart Board, our daily humor as a whole, and especially the phrase: "John, Will you close the blinds please?"

Thank you for a great two years!
-Sarah Leathwerwood

Anonymous said...

At first, i didnt like the idea of a blog, just because i like to finish my homework at school, but later i found that i kind of enjoyed learning differently. Its definitely nice to have a break from the textbook every once in a while. my favorite post was the 80's post. ive always enjoyed seeing how our parents lived and what it would have been like to grow up then. I like everything about the blog. Its easy to learn in your own way when you use it. Also, it doesnt really restrain learning. Its actually kind of a spring board that we can use to learn interesting things for ourselves. I definitely think you should bring it back next year

--a. elliott

Anonymous said...

I have always thought that the blog was a good idea and a great way to help us learn. Not only does it give us a chance to read about the things that are posted, but we also get to take part in the blog by answering questions on our blog post. If i were a teacher, i would have a blog in my class! my favorite topic was the vietnam war but my favorite blog post was by far the picture of Mr. Sinitiere with his girlfriend and his high shorts! It gave me a chance to see how the style was back in the 80s for younger kids.
I also really enjoyed having the blog because we were able to speak to other blogers. I really liked the Emmitt Till post because we were able to talk to bloggers that knew everything about the Emmitt Till case. History is my favorite class thanks to your sense of humor!! im really going to miss your puns next year!! you were the greatest teacher ever!!!!!
-mary kelley

Anonymous said...

Well originally I thought that the blog was a little different and I still do. I guess since I didn’t know what to expect my expectations were met. The best thing was that I usually didn’t have to bring a book home with me, the worst was that I would sometimes forget that I had a blog post due. I also prefer reading off of a computer than from a book. The one thing that I would change would have to be the amount of links that were posted with the post. I really didn’t want to visit 30 different websites to get answers. I remember the post about the 08 election was really interesting. I think that maybe some online quizzes like that would be interesting. Overall I liked it. I’m not really sure what else you could do to make it better other than not have so many links. Also, you have told me that when I graduate you will sit down and discuss your political views that you have kept from us for the past couple years. Although I'm not graduating, I am done taking your classes. It can be a New Deal. I think its close enough, maybe play 18 holes and discuss this issue that has been bothering me since sophmore year. But I guess you'll get the final vote on that, unless I demand a recount.
-Kreston