This document discusses using blogging to connect classrooms both within and beyond the school. It provides a brief history of the school's blogging efforts since 2010, including establishing class blogs and a student blogging challenge. Six key reasons for blogging are outlined: creating a positive digital footprint, practicing effective digital citizenship, promoting transparency and accountability, providing opportunities for feedback, using new web tools, and developing writing and creative skills. Potential issues with blogging are also acknowledged, such as starting blogs, gaining consent, maintaining audience and commitment over time.

1. 
Blogging
Connecting our classrooms
St Luke the Evangelist, Blackburn South
2012

2. 
Our story so far
Learning is enhanced when we connect with others within and beyond the classroom
2010-2011 • Class blogs
• CLRP • Student Blogging challenge
• SLAV PLN program • Class Blogs • Challenge – Refine
• Teacher Blogs • Student Blogs (Kidblog) purpose and get everyone
• Twitter on board
2010 2012

3. Our CL Focus 2009-10
“Learning is enhanced when we connect with others within and beyond the classroom”.

4. THE COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION MODEL
http://www.ideaslab.edu.au/design-lab/ckc/

6. 
Reasons to blog
What is your experience with blogging?
What can you see as authentic
and purposeful reasons to blog ?

7. 
Reasons to blog
Creating a positive digital footprint
Effective digital citizenship
Transparency and accountability
Feedback
Web 2.0 tools
Writing and Creative opportunities
Based on 6 reasons to blog
By Jenny Luca
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/08/six-reasons-why-kids-should-know-how-to-blog/

8. Creating positive digital footprint
 Using social media for constructive educational purpose
 Students control an image of themselves as learners
 Digital portfolio – for the future as well as a reflective learner

9. Transparency and connectivity
 Archive of learning whilst in
action
 A window into the classroom
for parents and wider school
community
 Connecting with other
learners, experts and
stakeholders
 Reciprocating

10. Effective digital citizenship
 Class blogs – teachers model appropriate behaviours
 Practising Cybersafe behaviour
 Authentic context for discussing issues

11. Affirmation - feedback
 Writing for a purpose
 Feedback from peers, adults, family as
well as teachers.
 Flag counters / Visitors maps /
Comments
 Sharing success / Asking questions
 Taking Action that Matters

12. New ways of thinking about web tools
 Sharing knowledge (Voicethread, Slideshare, Glogsters, Prezi)
 Requesting help (polls, questions)
 Publicity through Twitter

13. 

14. Writing and Creative Process
 Text types – opportunities for all
 Incentive to stand out from other blogs
 Feedback
 Audience
 Opportunity to model conventions/proof reading
 BLOGGING IS A PROCESS – requires practice, reflection and
research. (Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano)

15. Choose your path – or combination
Purpose
Showcase and Collaborate
With Parents and stakeholders
With wider Community
Communicate
To students – task driven – homework etc
To parents – extension of newsletter
To expert – sharing knowledge
Create and Reflect
For students – Digital / ePortfolio
As Professional reflective journal

16. Class Blogs
 Teacher models correct
behaviours by using:
• appropriate language
• selected personal
information only
• commenting skills (positive
and affirming etc)
 Parent feedback

17. 

18. 

19. Issues
 What are some of the issues
that you could foresee?

20. Issues
 Starting up – who, when and why ?
 Consent for work samples/photos etc
 Educating the parent community
 Finding an audience (Twitter #comments4kids, #classblogs)
Quadblogging
 Moderating Student Blogs – time element
 Maintaining Class Blogs – time, commitment and purpose

21. References
 Blogging in the Classroom
http://web.me.com/zowee/Zoes_Blog/Blog/Entries/2011/10/18_Blogging_in_the_Primary_Classroom.html
 Our Blog about Blogs http://zoeandmel.wordpress.com/about/
 Henrietta Miller http://www.classroomchronicles.net/2012/03/09/ictensw-edmodo-and-student-blogging/
 Silvia Rosenthal-Tolisano - We are blogging …. Now WhaT? http://langwitches.org/blog/2011/10/20/we-are-blogging-now-
what-stepping-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-60544
 Blogging in the Fourth Dimension 14 Steps to meaningful blogging http://mrspripp.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/14-steps-to-
meaningful-student-blogging.html
 Technology in the Classroom – Kathleen Morris Five Steps to starting a classroom blog
http://primarytech.global2.vic.edu.au/2012/01/29/five-steps-to-starting-a-class-blog-in-2012/

22. Links to explore
Student Blogging Challenge Stich.it http://stich.it/siNDA3NA
Class Blogs http://stich.it/siNDA3NQ
Teacher Blogs http://stich.it/siNDA3Ng