This document discusses 10 ways that weblogs (blogs) can transform a classroom. It provides examples of how blogs can be used to: 1) improve student writing skills by writing for an authentic audience; 2) showcase student work to a larger audience; 3) promote collaboration and community building; 4) encourage parent participation by providing a "window into the classroom"; and 5) connect the classroom to the global community. Specific strategies are presented, such as creating a class Twitter or Facebook page, Instagram account, YouTube channel, or sharing student blogs and Animoto videos. Blogs are suggested as a way to improve students' technology skills, receive instant feedback, and develop digital literacy.

1. 10 ways
webblogs will
Transform
your class
©Dianne St. Clair
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2. ways to Teach Using Websites
©Dianne St. Clair
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3. Reluctant writers
write for a purpose
Make blogging a part
of your literacy
curriculum to teach
English conventions.
Skills improved
Engagement levels
increased
Students use web
blogs to purposefully
communicate and
converse with others.
IMPROVEDLITERACY
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4. ©Dianne St. Clair
Share what you do with the world.
Photos of projects, announcements
Students become published artists,
photographers, writers, and
producers!
Websites provide a much larger
audience for student work and
provides an avenue for feedback and
self-improvement through
commenting.
Anything that you post to your blog will instantly be
accessible by your students from school and from
home. You can easily manage who gets to access
them through passwords and privacy measures.
authentic audience
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5. classroom
Creating a class website
requires teamwork and
collaboration.
Students and teachers
learn and share
together.
Builds class identity
builds community
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6. Encourage parent
participation
A class website is
a “window into
the classroom”
Parents have real
time access to
their child’s
education
connection
1. Use a Twitter Hashtag or Create a Class
FaceBook Page
2. Create a Class Instagram Account
3. Post Content Videos & Tutorials to a
YouTube Channel
4. Embed Animoto Videos
5. Share a Master List of Student Blogs
home-
school
5 strategies to consider:
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7. connection
1. Use a Twitter Hashtag or Create a Class
FaceBook Page
Post announcements, share pictures, and connect
parents to resources and documents online.
Tip: Using Twitter? You don’t need to follow your students’
parents, just add them to a list “Parents 2014-2015.”
Using Facebook? You do not need to friend you parents for them
to follow a Facebook page you’ve created for your class.
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school
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8. 2. Create a Class Instagram Account
Make it possible for parents to see what your
students are doing in the classroom.
Portfolio
Post pictures
Tip: If you are using Instagram and plan to have a public
account where you will post pictures of your students, you
need your parents to sign a photo release form. Like Twitter
and Facebook, you do no need to follow any parents or
students with your class Instagram account.
connectionhome-
school
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9. 3. Post Content Videos & Tutorials to a
YouTube Channel
If you flip your classroom and provide video
content online for students, parents can watch
the videos too. This provides parents with the
tools to support their students as they work on an
assignment.
Tip: Organize your videos into “playlists” so they are
easier for your parents to navigate. For example, I
have essay writing videos in their own playlist and
vocabulary videos in another playlist.
connectionhome-
school
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10. 4. Share Animoto
Videos
Animoto is easy! Take
photos of students working on
projects to share with parents
via short videos.
Tip: You can create a simple
Animoto video just using your
phone. Use the Animoto app
to create a polished video with
your phone in minutes!
connectionhome-
school
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11. 5. Share a Master List of Student Blogs
connectionhome-
school
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12. ©Dianne St. Clair
Your classroom
website has global
impact.
Your whole
curriculum or a
single page is just a
click and an email
away.
global connections
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13. confidence
Blogging can help
certain individuals to
practice their skills
and transfer them into
the “offline world”.
Here is an article on
how students with
ASD and confidence
issues can improve
their skills here.
IMPROVEs
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14. Blogging
helps
students to
become more
ICT literate -
a crucial 21st
century skill.
tecHnology skills
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15. time efficient
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16. internet Ethics
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17. instant
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feedback
http://goo.gl/aK3MTn

18. LINKS you’ll LOVE
Creating a Science Classroom Blog - This resource lists
seven reasons science teachers should use classroom blogs and
provides tips for setting up a basic blog within 20 minutes.
Using Blogs in the Classroom (PDF) – This guide lists eight
different ways students can use blogs in the classroom and
provides tips for using the right blogging platform.
Using Blogs to Improve Literacy – This article gives
several examples of successful classroom blogs and discusses
how blogging can help improve student literacy.
Blogs as Prewriting Tools – Dr. Nicole Luongo discusses
the use of classroom blogs by language arts educators.
Integrating Technology with Blogs – This article highlights
the importance of classroom blogs in helping students develop
technology skills.
Digital Literacy and Safety - This resource addresses some
of the safety issues associated with the use of technology in an
educational setting.
Integrating Vlogs in the Classroom – This guide lists some
of the ways teachers can use vlogs to enhance digital literacy.
Using Your Edublog to Teach – Edublogs gives ten
different ways to use blogs in the classroom.
7 Things to Know About Blogs (PDF) – Educause explains
why blogging is such a useful tool for educators.
Teaching with Glogster – This resource gives tips for using
Glogster in a classroom setting.
Glogster Benefits – Emory University gives several benefits
of using Glogster for creating interactive posters.
Find Educator Tools – Search for digital literacy tools by
keyword, subject area, or skill.
Podcasting in and Out of the Classroom – This guide
offers information about selecting a recording tool and using
podcasting in the classroom.
Podcasting Beyond the Classroom – This article explains
how podcasting can motivate students to do their best work.
Digital Literacy Lesson – This lesson helps students
develop digital literacy skills while learning about historical events
and figures.
Skills for 21st Century Learners (PDF) – This report
discusses the importance of bridging the digital divide.
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