This document outlines the agenda and resources for a workshop on using blogs as a teaching tool. The workshop will cover why blogs are useful, how to set up a blog in 5 minutes, hands-on blogging activities, and sharing new classroom blogs. Attendees are asked to sign up in advance and identify their technical skills. The facilitator will demonstrate popular blogging platforms like Blogger and Kidblog and provide examples of educational blogs to inspire participants.

1.
Blogs:
A Web 2.0 Teaching Tool
Facilitator: Reba Gordon Matthews

2.
Blogs: A Web 2.0 Teaching Tool
Hands-On Workshop
Link: http://testblog157.blogspot.com/
Agenda
January 25, 2011
Before Workshop Tasks Sign-up for the Blogging Tools
Identify yourself as a Novice or Proficient Tech User (On Laptop)
Blue Sticky – Novice Yellow Sticky – Proficient
Think of a name for your blog
1:30 – 1:40 Workshop Goals and Objectives
(Optional) Follow Along on the Blog
1:40 – 1:50 Description of Workshop Format
Facilitating the Workshop from a Blog
1:50 - 2:10 What is a Blog? Why Blog?
Videos:
What is a Blog – CommonCraft (3 min)
Blogger – BloggerHelp (3 min)
Quick Show of other Educational Blogs (see blog sidebar)
Review (2) of R. Matthews’ Blogs & Parts (see blog sidebar)
Learn the parts of a blog & how they work
2:10 -2:30 “Create Your Blog in 5 minutes Flat”
2:30 – 3:15 Hands-On Blogging Workshop
3:00 – 3:20 Workshop Accountability:
• Collecting “urls” to blogs – Reba
3:20 – 3:30 Showcase some of the New Johnson Blogs
Classroom Blog Info Video: (if time)
KidBlog.org – (3min)
3:20 – 3:30 Debrief / Questions

3.
Blog Workshop Links
Google: http://www.google.com
Blogger- General Blog: (Step One)
http://www.blogger.com/
Blogger in Draft – (if you want pgs in blog) – (Step 2)
Proficient Users (optional)
http://draft.blogger.com
Reba Gordon Matthews’ Blogs:
Workshop Blog:
“Staff Dev Test Blog”
http://testblog157.blogspot.com/
Short Link: http://bit.ly/ezPnHv
Professional Blog:
“Techie Lab Teacher Blogspot”
http://techielabteacher.blogspot.com/
Short Link: http://bit.ly/eR0GcT
Project Research Lab Blog – Kidblog.org (work in progress)
Kid Safe & Friendly Blogging Area
Test Blog Area:
http://kidblog.org/TestClassroom/
Short Link: http://bit.ly/fjl4MB
Research Lab Blog Area (Grades 3 -5)
Short Link: http://bit.ly/stemblog

4.
Blog Workshop Links (cont.)
Voki: Talking voice character or avatar
http://www.voki.com/create.php
Bit.ly: Shortens your links and you can share them w/others easier
http://bit.ly/
issuu:
Online service that turns your uploaded docs into book-like format.
http://issuu.com/home
AuthorStream: Online platform for sharing PowerPoint presentations
on the Internet. Allows you to download them as videos. Also keeps
the animation feature active in the presentation.
http://www.authorstream.com/
VoiceThread: Transforms pictures, docs, video into a collaborative
space with video, voice, and text comments
http://voicethread.com/
Example VoiceThread on my blog: The 5-Step Writing Process
Link:
http://techielabteacher.blogspot.com/2011/01/5-step-writing-
process.html
Short Link: http://bit.ly/hvdrvX

5.
Blog Workshop Links (cont.)
Blogging Resources
BES Blogs – Parent Info on Blogging
Berthoud Elementary School in Berthoud, Colorado
http://blogs.berthoudelementary.com/parents/
Some Other Educational Classroom Blogs
Miss McMillian’s Blog
http://mcmillan.wordpress.com/
Creative Cougar
http://creativecougar.blogspot.com/
Blog Dogs
http://hccweb2.org/3s2010/
Mrs. Cassidy’s Classroom Blog
Kndg – 1st Grade Class Blog
http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337

6.
Blog Workshop Links (cont.)
EXCELLENT Technology Resource Blog
Free Technology 4 Teachers by Richard Bryne
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
Edublog Winner for:
Best Individual Blog
Best Resource Sharing Blog
Best Educational Tech Support Blog
Edublog Teacher Challenge – 30 Day Online Blogging Prof. Dev.
(Do at your own pace)
Link:
http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/challenges/
Shorten Link: http://bit.ly/g0n1G4
2010 Edublog Awards: Leaders in the Web 2.0 Tech Arena
(blogs, webinars, podcasting, wiki, virtual worlds, video, tech support,
PLNs – Personal Learning Networks, etc.)
Link:
http://edublogawards.com/announcing-the-2010-edublog-awards-
winners/
Shorten Link: http://bit.ly/gkdMiL