Using Blogs to Promote Science Literacy
Welcome!
Welcome
Stacy Baker
November 21, 2008 sbaker@calvertonschool.org
NSTA Portland Conference

Presentation Outline
What is a Blog?
Why Blog?
Goals of a Blog
Small Groups
Share
Set up of a Blog
Hand out Packet

What
is
a
Blog?
Video
Parts of a Blog

Thank you for going the
extra mile with your
I love how the blog has
students. Your blog
connected us so much
demonstrates the
more to each other.
creativity and synthesis of
ideas that is a model for -9th Grade Student
the entire faculty.
-Principal
I have been so
impressed with
the project and
more importantly
the attitude my
daughter has
developed toward
science, writing,
research, and
Why Blogs? communication.
-Parent

What Do Students Like About Blogs?
Video

What
are
the
Goals
of
a
Blog?

Improve science literacy:
Americans Get F in Science Literacy

Student work will be read by thousands of people,
both their peers and experts in the field:
Sitemeter

Discuss topics students care about with their peers and experts:
Atlanta Water Crisis

Discuss labs and other
class assignments:
Substance X Lab

Interact and discuss topics with practicing scientists:
Explore Other Blogs
Scientist Interviews

Teach students how to evaluate internet sources:
Credible Sources

Exciting opportunities will develop!

Small Group Discussion
1. What would you like your students to blog about?
2. What things do you do now that you could replace with a blog?
3. What roadblocks might you encounter that would prevent you
from blogging with your students?
4. What are some ways you could get around those roadblocks?

Blog Safety
Rules for Students
●Use first names only or pseudonyms
●Do not identify your location
●Remember that nothing can be erased in cyberspace
Rules for Teachers
●Turn on comment moderation
●Turn on anti-spam filter
●Do not publish pictures with the school name or logo
●Do not publish names alongside pictures
Parent Consent Form

Extreme Biology Blog Tutorials
Comment Writing
Did you:
* Add new information that is related to the post?
* Insert a link to the website where you found the information?
* Check to make sure your comment does not contain the same
information as someone else's comment?
Post Writing
Did you:
* Make sure the topic you want to write about is biology-related?
* Check that all of your sources are credible before writing your post?
* Hyperlink your sources?
* Include a creative commons or public domain image?
* Include 2-3 science-based (not opinion-based) questions in your post?
* Compare your post to published posts to make sure the format is
correct?

http://creativecommons.org/

Use the
Advanced Search!

Getting Started with Edublogs

Thousands of Examples
Support Blogging! Links

Please join on the conversation at the NSTA
Conference Blog or on my teacher blog!

Sources
Slide #
1 Photo : Turtblu, www.flickr.com/photos/turtblu/494164844
2 Photo: Monkeyc.net, www.flickr.com/photos/monkeyc/322654818
3 Photo: -bast-, www.flickr.com/photos/-bast-/349497988
Video: “Blogs in Plain English” Common Craft Show
by Lee Lefever, www.commoncraft.com/show
4 Document: www.missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog
5 Photo: created using www.picnik.com and www.wordle.net
6 Photo: Stabilo Boss, www.flickr.com/photos/stabilo-boss/93136022
Photo: National Science Board, 2006. Science and Engineering Indicators.
7 Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/2007/09/17
8 Photo: www.clustrmaps.com
Document: www.sitemeter.com
9 Drought Photo: Fadder_Uri, www.flickr.com/fadderuri/1450938449
Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2007/10/07
10 Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2008/10/29/
11 Photo: David Kroll, www.jomc.unc.edu
Brian Switek, www.scienceblogs.com/laelaps
Erica Tsai, www.duke.edu/~yet2/
Eric Roston, www.ericroston.com
Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2008/09/29
Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/category/science-online-09

12 Screenshot: www.dhmo.org
13 Photo: Turtblu, www.flickr.com/photos/turtblu/494164844
Laura Porter, http://scienceblogs.com/digitalbio
Bora Zivkovic, http://scienceblogs.com/clock
Science Online '09, www.scienceonline09.com
15 Document: Parent Consent Form, http://beyond-school.org/2007/11/09
17 Comic: created using www.bitstrips.com
18 Photo: www.creativecommons.se/images/highquality.jpg
19 Screenshot: www.flickr.com
Photo: Bensonkua, www.flickr.com/photos/bensonkua/2127756905
Photo: Onkel_wart, www.flickr.com/photos/onkel_wart/2258366486
Photo: law_keven, www.flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00/1575325110
20 Screenshot: http://edublogs.org
21 Screenshot: www.classroom20.com
Document: http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers
22 Screenshot: http://blogs.nsta.org/ConferenceBlog/default.aspx
http://blogging4biology.edublogs.org