Blogs In The Classroom

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

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

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)

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

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)

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)

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*

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

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.

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!!

Downsides to Blogging?
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

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:

http://bdw-edu653.wikispaces.com	45
http://fremdsprachenundneuemedien.blogspot.com	27
http://msueduc515.pbworks.com	23
http://techtalkwithmeg.blogspot.com	16
http://www.slideshare.net	10
http://www.blogger.com	7
http://fremdsprachenundneuemedien.blogspot.de	4

Blogs In The Classroom

by Laura Losch on Feb 01, 2009

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Blogs In The Classroom — Presentation Transcript