Blogging can be a powerful tool for learning when used effectively in the classroom. It allows students to develop communication skills, reflect on their learning, and build an authentic writing portfolio that can be shared with a real audience. When done collaboratively, blogging promotes discussion, global connections, and an opportunity for students to challenge their own ideas by interacting with others wrestling with similar topics of interest. Setting up student blogs through Edublogs will provide opportunities for students, teachers, and administrators in ELANCO grades K-12 to create and maintain their own blogs and benefit from these learning advantages.

1. for learning
Blogging
June 7, 2014
Elanco

2. Welcome!
Please reference the session resources located
on the Tech Day Wiki!
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techday.wiki.elanco.net/blog

4. !
What does it mean to write in digital spaces?
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How do we use writing to support learning?
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How do we prepare our students to use digital
environments that most likely will be the majority (if
not only) platform that they will be working in and
with?
Source: Silvia Tolisano

5. A blog...
• is a method of communication
• is a website with entries called posts
• encourages the exchange of ideas
• includes features such as comments, hyperlinked
text and other media to increase user interactivity
• can incorporate pages and serve as a learning
portfolio
• is easy to set up and maintain!

6. http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/09/14/blogs-vs-static-websites/

7. http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/09/14/blogs-vs-static-websites/

8. Why blog?
• Develop and strengthen communication skills
• Great platform for reflection and portfolio development
• Interactive: two-way communication and discourse
encouraged
• A “real” writing experience - opportunities for revised
compositions and shared with authentic audience
• Promotes digital citizenship and building a positive digital
footprint
• Collaborative opportunities and global connections

11. Setting the stage.
http://suewaters.com/tag/blogging-cycle/

12. Preparing students.

13. Image: Rodd Lucier

14. Parents as partners.

15. Image: Pernille Ripp
Global connections!

16. In ELANCO…
Students, teachers, and administrators Grades
K-12 will have the opportunity to create and
maintain their own blog through Edublogs!

17. To consider:
• Sharing permissions
• Approval processes for posts and comments
• Managing and sharing feeds
• Topic choices, commenting requirements, content area
connections
• Taking blogging to the next level: connections, creative
writing, ePortfolios

18. Let’s take a look…

19. “I think the biggest tip that I'd have for classroom teachers interested in building
interest in blogging among their students would be to see blogging as
something more than just a place for students to post stand-alone thoughts.
For me, the power in blogging rests not in what I write alone, but in the
reactions that others have to my writing and in my efforts to read and
respond to the thoughts of others.
Accomplished bloggers seek out others who are wrestling with common areas of
interest, primarily because opportunities to interact with ideas is motivating. One
of the tenets of constructivism is that true learning only takes place when
deeply held personal beliefs are challenged by contrary evidence. In those
moments, individuals are forced to refine and revise ideas that they once
held to be true.
In a sense, blogging makes such experiences possible for everyone. It is, in
some ways, a remarkable opportunity for differentiation because writers of
all ages are wrestling with interesting ideas at all times. With a bit of poking
around, challenging content can be found for anyone.”
Bill Ferriter