One sixth-grade teacher at Lakeview Elementary School is taking up some of the latest technology in his quest to teach his students.

In January, teacher Eric Hudspith began implementing some of the most up-to-date technology — much of which a lot of adults don’t even know how to use or are just starting to use — into his daily assignments.

In addition to the Lakeview Web page he already set up, Hudspith began a classroom blog and a wiki page and began podcasting assignments.

On the blog the students can answer weekly questions, post writing assignments for peers to proof or just give commentary to their classmates.

“It allows them to learn how to problem solve, access information and publicize information,” Hudspith said.

For instance, this week, the students read a story about Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille, and afterward were assigned to write a story about what would happen if they were mute, deaf or blind.

The students posted drafts of their stories to the classroom blog, and on Wednesday, when the students were in the computer lab at the school, they were given the chance to read over their peers’ stories and offer suggestions or other feedback.

“I think it’s really cool because it’s another way to communicate,” said one student, Angie Schmidtt. “I think it’s cool because you can do it from home, and it’s fun to see everyone’s point of view on it.”

If the students have a question about their schoolwork, they can post it on the blog and other students or Hudspith can offer their input. Or, if a student is going to be absent from school because of sickness, that student can post that to the blog, and in response, Hudspith can post what assignments the student would need to make up.

Hudspith said it allows the students to communicate in a way they’re comfortable with outside the classroom. It also allows parents the chance to see more of what’s going on in the classroom.

Before the blog was up and running, he taught the students about Web safety, and the students use only their first names for safety reasons when they make posts, he said.

Students Lexi Gordon and Holly Wichmann said they like being able to have access to the blog no matter where they are — even if they’re not at school.

And they like having access to the input of others if they come across a problem while they are working on homework, Gordon and Wichmann said.

Students in Finland are viewers of the class’ blog, to help them learn more English.

On the wiki page, the students modify or add content to what is like a collaborative encyclopedia Web page for topics that the students are learning about.

Through podcasts Hudspith gives assignments, and the students are allowed to make projects as well.

Podcasts help the students who are more auditory learners, the teacher said, because they allow the students to actually hear instructions or to display what they’ve learned out loud.

“They’re more interested in it then when you’re reading to them out of a book,” Hudspith said.

A lot of the students came to him already knowing how to do PowerPoint slideshow, he said, and these alternatives give them ways to do projects in a more unique manner.

“It’s preparing them for the future,” Hudspith said. “Technology is the future. The more they’re not afraid to learn, I think that will prepare them in a major way.”

The teacher wanted to reassure people he follows the teaching guidelines and requirements set by the state.

He is attending Minnesota State University-Mankato to get a master’s degree in education technology.