21 st Century Communication using Blogs Julia Osteen Technology Instructional Lead Teacher Greater Atlanta Christian School

Benefits of using blogs The weblog can be a powerful tool for reflection, communication, and community building. Citizen journalism Forum for publishing your views or expertise Reader feedback

The weblog can be a powerful tool for reflection, communication, and community building.

Citizen journalism

Forum for publishing your views or expertise

Reader feedback

Professional Practice What makes a blog article good? http://www.speedofcreativity.org/ http://www.infinitethinking.org/ http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/ http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/ http://oedb.org/library/features/top-100-education-blogs

What makes a blog article good?

http://www.speedofcreativity.org/

http://www.infinitethinking.org/

http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/

http://oedb.org/library/features/top-100-education-blogs

Class Blogs http://students2oh.org/2007/12/16/teaching-brevity/ http://itc.blogs.com/patrick/2005/02/5th_grade.html http://duckdiaries.edublogs.org/2006/04/20/2nd-graders-write-about-our-missing-duck/

http://students2oh.org/2007/12/16/teaching-brevity/

http://itc.blogs.com/patrick/2005/02/5th_grade.html

http://duckdiaries.edublogs.org/2006/04/20/2nd-graders-write-about-our-missing-duck/

Blog solutions for classrooms Class Blogmeister http://classblogmeister.com/ Edublogs http://edublogs.org/ 21 Classes http://www.21classes.com/

Class Blogmeister

http://classblogmeister.com/

Edublogs

http://edublogs.org/

21 Classes

http://www.21classes.com/

What are kids saying about blogging? When asked to reflect on a question in class, the response was “why don’t we blog about that?” Two blogging classes have a cyber-pal relationship. When a visitor to one class mentions he is from Europe, the first graders ask “is that near Moose Jaw Canada?” Their point of reference was for the location of the buddy class.

When asked to reflect on a question in class, the response was “why don’t we blog about that?”

Two blogging classes have a cyber-pal relationship. When a visitor to one class mentions he is from Europe, the first graders ask “is that near Moose Jaw Canada?” Their point of reference was for the location of the buddy class.

What are kids saying about blogging? When a school in Maine experienced severe flooding 3 times last spring, 200 kids went online, chatting to each other, sharing photos of the flood and spreading the word that school was closed.

When a school in Maine experienced severe flooding 3 times last spring, 200 kids went online, chatting to each other, sharing photos of the flood and spreading the word that school was closed.

What are kids saying about blogging? Responses from 1 st graders: What do you like about blogging? “all of it” “ it helps you with writing because you have to sound out the letters” “ I like it because you get to write.” “ it makes you a better writer” “ Two people commented on my blog!”

Responses from 1 st graders:

What do you like about blogging? “all of it”

“ it helps you with writing because you have to sound out the letters”

“ I like it because you get to write.”

“ it makes you a better writer”

“ Two people commented on my blog!”

The Bottom Line Provides an authentic audience for writing – not just an audience of one Uses tools that digital natives are in tune with Provides an avenue for student voice Kids are blogging anyway, let’s teach them productive uses for the technology!

Provides an authentic audience for writing – not just an audience of one

Uses tools that digital natives are in tune with

Provides an avenue for student voice

Kids are blogging anyway, let’s teach them productive uses for the technology!