GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THOSE LITTLE BLOGS Nick Shaw (shawn@holycross.school.nz)

Discussion Points What is a Blog and Why do them? Blogging and Inquiry Learning Assessment and the Key Competencies Reflective Blogging Examples Creating a Blog

What is a Blog and Why do them?

Blogging and Inquiry Learning

Assessment and the Key Competencies

Reflective Blogging

Examples

Creating a Blog

What is a Blog? A type of website with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events etc. Rose in popularity in the early 2000s. Most personal blogs are never read by anyone! Can include multimedia such as video (vlogs), pictures, links, art and audio (podcasting). Over the last few year ‘microblogging’ (websites such as Twitter’) have increased in popularity. Usually have the ability to leave comments and / or responses.

A type of website with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events etc.

Rose in popularity in the early 2000s. Most personal blogs are never read by anyone!

Can include multimedia such as video (vlogs), pictures, links, art and audio (podcasting).

Over the last few year ‘microblogging’ (websites such as Twitter’) have increased in popularity.

Usually have the ability to leave comments and / or responses.

To Blog or Not to Blog? Helps to motivate reluctant readers / writers and those who don’t contribute during class time. Creates instant home – school links. Record of teaching and learning. Opportunity to use a Web 2.0 tool and integrate ICT into classroom practice. Makes the children members of a global learning community. Difficult to set up, maintain, and time consuming Security and safety of children

Helps to motivate reluctant readers / writers and those who don’t contribute during class time.

Creates instant home – school links.

Record of teaching and learning.

Opportunity to use a Web 2.0 tool and integrate ICT into classroom practice.

Makes the children members of a global learning community.

Difficult to set up, maintain, and time consuming

Security and safety of children

Blogging and Inquiry Learning Share their prior knowledge and experiences. Put up their key questions.

Share their prior knowledge and experiences.

Put up their key questions.

Blogging and Inquiry Learning Share resources with those who have similar questions. Work with group members to collaborate and use information that they have found. Could use as a possible presentation tool. Reflection and evaluation of their work. Parents can see what is happening in the class and contribute to their child’s learning.

Share resources with those who have similar questions.

Work with group members to collaborate and use information that they have found.

Could use as a possible presentation tool.

Reflection and evaluation of their work.

Parents can see what is happening in the class and contribute to their child’s learning.

Assessment and the Key Competencies Thinking: Children reflect on their own learning, make sense of information and ideas, and challenge assumptions and perceptions. ULSaT: They confidently use ICT to provide information and communicate with others. Managing Self: They manage projects and know how to act independently. Relating to Others: Interact with a range of people in a variety of contexts. Participating & Contributing: Be actively involved in communities.

Thinking: Children reflect on their own learning, make sense of information and ideas, and challenge assumptions and perceptions.

ULSaT: They confidently use ICT to provide information and communicate with others.

Managing Self: They manage projects and know how to act independently.

Relating to Others: Interact with a range of people in a variety of contexts.

Participating & Contributing: Be actively involved in communities.

Reflective Blogging For Educators Good form of Professional Development review and record keeping. Useful for management to understand teachers experiences

For Educators

Good form of Professional Development review and record keeping.

Useful for management to understand teachers experiences

For Students Helps children to clarify understandings and talk about their learning. Can demonstrate a child’s emotional maturity. A journal that can’t be read by a snooping sibling or parent. Reflective Blogging

For Students

Helps children to clarify understandings and talk about their learning.

Can demonstrate a child’s emotional maturity.

A journal that can’t be read by a snooping sibling or parent.

“ WELL, YES, WE COULD READ YOUR BLOG… OR YOU COULD JUST TELL US ABOUT YOU SCHOOL DAY.”

Creating a Blog and Where to Start? Use free blogging host sites. www.21classes.com (Education Based) http://edublogs.org (Education Based) www.blogger.com All you need is an email address. Have a goal about what you want to achieve from it. How big? Security? Access? Purpose? Let the families know and get them on board. Most importantly let the kids take ownership. Don’t let it take too much time.

Use free blogging host sites.

www.21classes.com (Education Based)

http://edublogs.org (Education Based)

www.blogger.com

All you need is an email address.

Have a goal about what you want to achieve from it. How big? Security? Access? Purpose?

Let the families know and get them on board.

Most importantly let the kids take ownership.

Don’t let it take too much time.

Some Examples http://holycrossinquiry.21classes.com http:// www.marshall.school.nz /

http://holycrossinquiry.21classes.com

http:// www.marshall.school.nz /