Blogs & Wikis in the Classroom Susannah Azzaro & Lauren Fee Instructional Technology Services of Central Ohio

“ [E]very educator needs to understand the potential impact of these tools…because our students will be using them (or newer iterations) more and more, and because the underlying concepts they are built on are tremendously important. The social connections that students are now making on the Web, the ability to share and contribute ideas and work, the new expectation of collaboration, the ability to truly extend the walls of our classroom…these ideas are at the core of this new Web. As educators, it’s imperative we understand the implications of these capabilities for our classrooms.” (p. viii) - Will Richardson

“ [E]very educator needs to understand the potential impact of these tools…because our students will be using them (or newer iterations) more and more, and because the underlying concepts they are built on are tremendously important. The social connections that students are now making on the Web, the ability to share and contribute ideas and work, the new expectation of collaboration, the ability to truly extend the walls of our classroom…these ideas are at the core of this new Web. As educators, it’s imperative we understand the implications of these capabilities for our classrooms.” (p. viii)

- Will Richardson

What is a Blog? What is it? Short for ‘weblog’ “ Empty book” Commenting feature Examples: Columbus Academy PD blog AP Calculus 6th Grade Homework blog

What is it?

Short for ‘weblog’

“ Empty book”

Commenting feature

Examples:

Columbus Academy PD blog

AP Calculus

6th Grade Homework blog

Blogs in the Classroom Access to relevant materials Communication with absent students Increased parent involvement Continue discussions outside classroom Q&A with guest speakers Post prompts for writing Publish examples of good student writing

Access to relevant materials

Communication with absent students

Increased parent involvement

Continue discussions outside classroom

Q&A with guest speakers

Post prompts for writing

Publish examples of good student writing

Advantages of Using Blogs Instant publishing Free or little cost Comment features Work for any subject Give everyone a voice Promote ownership of work Reflection on process Comments incite excitement

Instant publishing

Free or little cost

Comment features

Work for any subject

Give everyone a voice

Promote ownership of work

Reflection on process

Comments incite excitement

Wikis What is it? Free online writing space Allows multiple authors to add, update, edit The process is the product Ideas? Group projects Manage school and class documents Use as a presentation tool Examples: Holocaust Page 5th Grade Book Study Wiki Model Schools Wiki

What is it?

Free online writing space

Allows multiple authors to add, update, edit

The process is the product

Ideas?

Group projects

Manage school and class documents

Use as a presentation tool

Examples:

Holocaust Page

5th Grade Book Study Wiki

Model Schools Wiki

A Formula for Bringing the World to You Syndicated Content (e.g., blogs, anything with RSS Feed) + News Aggregator (e.g., Bloglines, Google Reader) = The World in the Palm of Your Hands Susannah's Bloglines Google Reader Google Blog Search/Technorati

Syndicated Content (e.g., blogs, anything with RSS Feed)

+

News Aggregator (e.g., Bloglines, Google Reader)

=

The World in the Palm of Your Hands

Susannah's Bloglines

Google Reader

Google Blog Search/Technorati

Thank you! ITSCO 1-800-398-7675 Susannah Azzaro [email_address] Lauren Fee [email_address]