Blogs and Bridges

Earlier this year I attended a workshop on Engineering and Technology. The main purpose of this workshop was to get educators better informed on ways we can get our students excited about engineering and technology. One of the lessons that I received from this workshop was a building bridges project. I immediately saw a great opportunity to integrate 5th grade science with technology. After talking to the 5th grade teachers at my schools, we came up with the plan that students would create blueprint type plans of bridges during their technology time with me. The bridges would be designed using a drawing program and printed off so the students could then build their designed structures in their science class. This would continue for three class periods, allowing students to redesign their bridges as need be depending on the success they had during the weight tests.

Now, as I become more familiar with blogs, I can see great benefits a class blog would have on this project. My plan now is to have each small group of students who are working together to create bridge plans, also then blog about what their design consists of, how well it resisted the weight test, and what changes they will make to their future designs and why. Students will then continue making posts after each new design and test trial. All students can then read and respond to other group’s blogs offering suggestions and encouragement. This way, the blog not only serves as a place where students can discuss science and engineering content, but they can also showcase their own work and accomplishments.

Since I teach technology classes to all elementary students, I only see each grade level for 45 minutes a week. This would make it entirely impossible to allow every group to give a full explanation of their bridge design, successes, and weaknesses each week. With blogs, students can give each group the time they deserve and offer insight without having to be interrupted because of a bell. This allows students to work together as an entire class sharing designs, mistakes, and ideas rather than just having one group compete against another. Students then would get a really good idea of how engineers really do work together. Ideas are being built from one group to the next, hopefully allowing all groups to have success in the end. On top of all that, the discussion that each group has before, and while writing the blogs, creates opportunities for great critical thinking.