Blogging in the K-12 Classroom By Ashley Sikayun ED 480 – Ed Tech Spring 2009

What is a “blog?” Short for “web log” An online journal Allows for interaction between the writer and the readers through comments Includes articles, images, video, links to other sites, and comments Many types of blogs – personal, entertainment, business, media/news, educational, etc. Approximately 70 million blogs on the web

Short for “web log”

An online journal

Allows for interaction between

the writer and the readers

through comments

Includes articles, images, video, links to other sites, and comments

Many types of blogs – personal, entertainment, business, media/news, educational, etc.

Approximately 70 million blogs on the web

Blogs vs. Websites Blogs are easier to update and maintain Blog entries are automatically posted Variety of ready-made templates for customization Blogs encourage discussion easily through allowing comments Blogs can be easily accessed and updated from anywhere Variety of hosting websites to chose from: blogger.com , livejournal.com , wordpress.com , etc .

Blogs are easier to update and maintain

Blog entries are automatically posted

Variety of ready-made templates for customization

Blogs encourage discussion easily through allowing comments

Blogs can be easily accessed and updated from anywhere

Variety of hosting websites to chose from: blogger.com , livejournal.com , wordpress.com , etc .

Why use blogging in the classroom? Interactive – encourages discussion and reflection Integrate technology Huge motivator for students Share classroom happening’s with parents, relatives, and other students from around the world Allow students to practice writing and reading skills article on Engaging Boys in Reading and Writing Document and showcase student work for others to evaluate Great source for lessons, activities & encouragement for teachers Gets students to WRITE, REACT, & SHARE

Interactive – encourages discussion

and reflection

Integrate technology

Huge motivator for students

Share classroom happening’s with parents,

relatives, and other students from around the world

Allow students to practice writing and reading skills

article on Engaging Boys in Reading and Writing

Document and showcase student work for others to evaluate

Great source for lessons, activities & encouragement for teachers

Gets students to WRITE, REACT, & SHARE

How can you use blogging? Post writing prompts or journaling topics for students to respond to Assign groups of students to do a post on special school events or a summary of a classroom unit Have students respond to a reading and reflect Connect with another school blog and have students respond to each others’ posts Have students report on the progress of an ongoing group project Many, many more ideas

Post writing prompts or journaling topics for students to respond to

Assign groups of students to do a post on special school events or a summary of a classroom unit

Have students respond to a reading and reflect

Connect with another school blog and have students respond to each others’ posts

Have students report on the progress

of an ongoing group project

Many, many more ideas

Blogging Safety Be aware of the school’s Acceptable Use Policy Teach students blogging etiquette and blogging safety Have clear expectations, rules, and consequences for student blogging Use “gated blogs” where teachers can approve posts and comments before they are published Tips for online safety

Be aware of the

school’s Acceptable Use Policy

Teach students blogging etiquette and blogging safety

Have clear expectations, rules, and consequences for student blogging

Use “gated blogs” where teachers can approve posts and comments before they are published

Tips for online safety

Creating a classroom blog 5 educational blogging tools 21 Classes Class Blogmeister Edublogs / Learnerblogs Think.com Gaggle Blogger TeachersFirst for overview and comparison

5 educational blogging tools

21 Classes

Class Blogmeister

Edublogs / Learnerblogs

Think.com

Gaggle

Blogger

TeachersFirst for overview and comparison

Sample Classroom Blogs Mr. Brune’s 5 th Grade Blog Mrs. Cassidy’s 1 st Grade Blog Create your own classroom blog tutorial from Educational Tech in the Classroom

Mr. Brune’s 5 th Grade Blog

Mrs. Cassidy’s 1 st Grade Blog

Create your own classroom blog tutorial

from Educational Tech in the Classroom

Sources Creating a Science Classroom Blog Blogging Basics by Lorrie Jackson www.eductionworld.com/a_teach/techtorial TeachersFirst http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogbasics.cfm Educational Technology in the Classroom http://www.blog.classroomteacher.ca Online Safety http://ps130.wordpress.com/online-safety/ Mr. Brune’s 5 th Grade Blog Mrs. Cassidy’s 1 st Grade Blog

Creating a Science Classroom Blog

Blogging Basics by Lorrie Jackson

www.eductionworld.com/a_teach/techtorial

TeachersFirst http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogbasics.cfm

Educational Technology in the Classroom http://www.blog.classroomteacher.ca

Online Safety http://ps130.wordpress.com/online-safety/

Mr. Brune’s 5 th Grade Blog

Mrs. Cassidy’s 1 st Grade Blog