One of the best known ways to engage students is to find something they enjoy doing and incorporate it into a lesson. If students identify with something that is being taught they tend to stay on task better and focus. Many students today are technology proficient and use several online applications to network socially and create material for their friends and family. Here is a nice article that explains how a teacher might incorporate these interests into their teaching.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/197711
In this particular case, the emphasis is on using proper English for formal writing. On the internet it is easy for students to let their writing sometimes fall back to a casual style that works for informal communication but would not be considered acceptable for formal use.
Enjoy the article, let me know what you think and C U La8er.
Mike
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Interesting article-many years ago I took a wonderful course in linguistics and I learned what a fluid and changeable thing language is. I don't want to rain on the author's parade, but I suspect the texting habits of the young will slowly seep into formal writing. (with the teachers kicking and screaming the whole way)
ReplyDeleteI agree Nancy, but I also think its ok to to have formal and informal types of communication. I encourage students to be confortable in class but also warn them there is a time and a place for formality.
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