Blogs in the Classroom Communicating with the “MySpace” Generation

What is a Blog? Quick 3-minute Common Craft Movie A web log A communication tool An informational hub A place to give students a voice

Quick 3-minute Common Craft Movie

A web log

A communication tool

An informational hub

A place to give students a voice

Why a Blog? Two-way communication with students Improved writing skills Motivating students who may not participate in classroom discussions Involving parents Assignments all in one place Students’ own opinions about the world

Two-way communication with students

Improved writing skills

Motivating students who may not participate in classroom discussions

Involving parents

Assignments all in one place

Students’ own opinions about the world

Blogs in the classroom Classroom Management (assigning homework, posting lessons) Collaboration (teachers working with students on writing skills) Discussions (classroom discussion outside of classroom) Student Portfolios (displaying and archiving student work) (Teaching Today, 2009)

Classroom Management (assigning homework, posting lessons)

Collaboration (teachers working with students on writing skills)

Discussions (classroom discussion outside of classroom)

Student Portfolios (displaying and archiving student work)

(Teaching Today, 2009)

What can I post on my Blog? Writing assignments Collaborative projects Book Reviews Blog can serve as archive of information Showcase student work Daily lesson notes from class

Writing assignments

Collaborative projects

Book Reviews

Blog can serve as archive of information

Showcase student work

Daily lesson notes from class

Points to Remember Set Blog rules for commenting Lock down the Blog where you are the only administrator Be authentic Remember the Blog is a public domain Pick a catchy name (don’t do what I did)

Set Blog rules for commenting

Lock down the Blog where you are the only administrator

Be authentic

Remember the Blog is a public domain

Pick a catchy name (don’t do what I did)

Free Blog sites Hall County will eventually get an internal Blog site, but until then. . . . WordPress (www.wordpress.com) EduBlogs (www.edublogs.org) Not currently blocked at school, however, some pictures posted on your Blog may become blocked at some point (Flickr)

Hall County will eventually get an internal Blog site, but until then. . . .

WordPress (www.wordpress.com)

EduBlogs (www.edublogs.org)

Not currently blocked at school, however, some pictures posted on your Blog may become blocked at some point (Flickr)

Blog Features Blog statistics Widgets (sidebar items of interest) Poll Daddy (posting an interactive poll) Separate pages for separate items of interest (intro., rules, etc.) *Quick note about Google Reader*

Blog statistics

Widgets (sidebar items of interest)

Poll Daddy (posting an interactive poll)

Separate pages for separate items of interest (intro., rules, etc.)

*Quick note about Google Reader*

Helpful Add-Ons for Free Flickr – Photo management tool IrfanView – captures screen shots Kwout – captures screen shots Del.icio.us – social bookmarking site PollDaddy – insert a poll, now a sister site Feed Burner – e-mail subscription tool

Flickr – Photo management tool

IrfanView – captures screen shots

Kwout – captures screen shots

Del.icio.us – social bookmarking site

PollDaddy – insert a poll, now a sister site

Feed Burner – e-mail subscription tool

Closer look at WordPress Click Sign Up Now! on WordPress Home Page It will ask you for a user name, password, and e-mail address. Please note!! The user name you pick becomes the web address of your Blog. For example: librarylounge@wordpress.com So please choose wisely!! WordPress will send a confirmation e-mail to complete the set-up process.

Sample to view www.blogpresentation.wordpress.com Password: southhall Please feel free to log in to this Blog and view all the features, widgets, extras that WordPress offers prior to starting your own Blog.

www.blogpresentation.wordpress.com

Password: southhall

Please feel free to log in to this Blog and view all the features, widgets, extras that WordPress offers prior to starting your own Blog.

Blogging Expert Buffy Hamilton, Media Specialist at Creekview High School, Cherokee County http://bloggingfun.wordpress.com/ She created this Blog from a class she taught on Blogging. Excellent resource!!

Buffy Hamilton, Media Specialist at Creekview High School, Cherokee County

http://bloggingfun.wordpress.com/

She created this Blog from a class she taught on Blogging. Excellent resource!!

Downsides to Blogging? It has the potential to become an online soapbox Possibly biased information Possibly inaccurate information Student Internet access TIME!!!

It has the potential to become an online soapbox

Possibly biased information

Possibly inaccurate information

Student Internet access

TIME!!!

Examples to peruse http://theunquietlibrary.wordpress.com/ http://weblogs.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/bees/ http://millersenglish10.blogspot.com/ http://byrdmiddle.org/outsiders/ http://heymister.wordpress.com/ Video: Guerrilla Season Book Blog Project

http://theunquietlibrary.wordpress.com/

http://weblogs.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/bees/

http://millersenglish10.blogspot.com/

http://byrdmiddle.org/outsiders/

http://heymister.wordpress.com/

Video: Guerrilla Season Book Blog Project

References Introduction to blogging . Retrieved February 1, 2009, from SlideShare: < http://www.slideshare.net/theunquietlibrarian/introduction-to-blogging-300432?src=embed > Teaching Today. “Blog Basics.” Teaching Today, Glencoe Online. 2009. 1 February 2009 < http:// teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/blog -basics > This presentation online:

Introduction to blogging . Retrieved February 1, 2009, from SlideShare: < http://www.slideshare.net/theunquietlibrarian/introduction-to-blogging-300432?src=embed >

Teaching Today. “Blog Basics.” Teaching Today, Glencoe Online. 2009. 1 February 2009 < http:// teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/blog -basics >

This presentation online: