In a reversal of the current trend to turn print books into e-books, I just got an "invite" to turn my blog into a printed book in softcover or hardcover for $14.95 and up. I can even elect to include a dedication, probably for additional fee. Wow, we now go both ways: from e-publishing back to printed books, not just from taking printed books and converting them to e-books. This was a shock. Have others heard of turning electronic texts into printed books! I will let you know more if I investigate the offer to convert my blog into a published book. However, the offer makes me wonder, if teachers sponsored blogs with their students, K-12, and then had the full blog published at the end of the year as a book, how would students feel seeing their collaborative work in a book? Any thoughts?
13 comments:
I think my response will not shock you at all... I am not in favor of blogs being transformed into a book. I am not comfortable sharing my thoughts with strangers let alone if those thoughts could be shared even further in a book. I think people would not be as honest in their responses if there was the chance of it going further than a classroom setting.
Lori, I have no intention of converting the blog to a book. However, what if students in advance knew their writings throughout the year would be published as a book? What if the book were used as a creative writing environment or for students to write final essays on a topic of common interest. If the students knew in advance the blog were used as a collaborative environment, and that just the blogs, not the comments, were made into a book, would that change your mind? My sense is the book would be a compilation of the author's posting, and not the comments. I suppose it would be a way for the blogger to archive his or her work in print form. However, for me the drawback is videos and pictures might be lost in the printed page. Would the book be merely a representation of the text? Legally, I don't think the comments of participants would be permissible unless all signed off an authorization. My sense is that the ad was aimed at the author (or authors) of the blog just to have the postings, not the comments, compiled in print format in a book. Oh well, I have no plans for that. I already archive most of my blog articles, as I know that online sites can disappear at any time. That is one reason why I hesitate to have students create their websites using an online source. Thank you for your comments.
I think turning a classroom blog into a book would be a really cool experience for a class! I agree with Lori, students would obviously have to know beforehand that this was going to be done. I think if I wanted to do this I would not make it mandetory that students put thier blogs into the book, it could be up to them. It would be intresting to see how many students wanted thier blogs pubished and how many didnt. Another option could be that the blogs become anonymous. I think this would be something new and exciting that a teacher could use with students.
I like Christina's idea of the blog entires being anonymous and voluntary. That would seem to take pressure off of shy/private students. I am still not sure of the value of converting a blog into a book. Can someone give me an example of a blog that would make a good book? Christina - did you have an idea of a classroom topic that they could blog about that would be neat for a book?
Hey Lori, I was just thinking in my subject area (Social Studies) it would be neat to get students thoughts on certain topics. I am not teaching yet but when I design my units I try to make broad themes that students can think about through the unit. Examples that I have used are: "Ordinary people doing extraordinary things", "Can conflict create change" and "Can one person leave an impact or change history." I think students would come up with some really cool answers to these questions. If we created a blog that was anonymous students could all enjoy each other's work or answers. Personally, when I was in school even if I answered something well I would still never share my work with others. If we had a blog or anonymous option it might have been a different story. Also, a published blog that answered these type of questions might be something neat to have with you throughout your life and you would always remember that class! Just some thoughts, let me know what you think!
Christina - Thanks for sharing your ideas. It was very helpful to me to understand where this could go and be beneficial. I agree, your topics would generate very interesting responses. Looking at your first topic about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, it would also allow the students to be teaching other students through what they write.
I like the idea of turning a classroom blog into a book. I think it could take students through the entire writing process. For example, right now I'm posting to a blog. I'm writing exactly how I feel. I don't take the time to create a final draft but I could if I knew it would turn into a book. Students could post back and forth. They could do their peer editing on line. The final copy could be copied and pasted into a word document and printed with pictures. Just a thought. What do other people think?
Publishing a blog does strike me as a bit of a flip-flop. The beauty of blogging is that it happens in real time, on the spot. It feels natural to me and uncontrived. There is an imagined sense of likemindedness and community. Posters will be people who, like me, are enrolled in this course, or rarely those people who sought out the opportunity to read blogs about "computers in the classroom." We are all reading and responding authentically.
However, Ashley's idea about incorporating the blog into the writing process, as a sort of brainstorm or first draft type of step is intriguing. I think it is important that she mentioned an editing and revising stage between blogging and publishing.
I think Ashley had a great idea with regards to using the blog as a way to practice the various steps involved with writing. I think students would enjoy going through the processes of peer revision and rough drafts more if they knew they were creating a final product. I think it would also be a great momento for students. How many students get to see their work in an actual book format? It could also serve as an "end of the year" portfolio. What's great about it is that the whole class contributed. It would be a great way to promote community within the classroom. Again, students should know that their work is going to be published, but the book doesn't have to go any farther than the students or the classroom. I think it could serve as a great learning tool and community builder within a classroom.
I think the idea is interesting in the right context. Would I want my thoughts in response to a blog actually printed? Then again, what's the difference? I put it out on the internet and we all know what they say about that - it lives forever...but I do wonder, would the blogger really need my permission? Isn't it "public" if I post it? Back to the idea of print, I think students might enjoy seeing their discussions in print. It would have to be done in the right way. I agree with Judy that it needs to be informed, discussed from the beginning. The students could always have the final say on what actually goes inthe book. I think it has positive potential.
Victoria,
How true! There's really no difference because one's ideas are out there on the web anyways. If it was done in a classroom, students would have to be aware. Parents would need to sign a waiver too. Other than that, I really don't see the purpose of printing a blog. It's on the web. It's there for all to see. Why waste the paper to print it?
I think that this whole Youtube thing takes away the seriousness of applying for college. To me, univerisites/colleges should not allow prespective students to apply online. It is matter of security as well!
I think that it can be used as a resource or as a portfolio assessment for students if they have an active part in the blog. Having a hard copy of all their postings and discussions will allow for a paper assessment that can be used to show participation and growth.
Students may put more effort and want to "shine" with their postings knowing that it will be published. As people will be able to search for what the students have already posted, having it detailed for each student with their direct posts would be a good method for students to have a final portfolio.
If students started this process freshman year of high school, it would be great to have them go through their senior year so that could see their growth as students and adults through postings. It may even some day be used as a metric or resource for applying to colleges to see student growth.
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