The document discusses using digital tools for teaching, including blogs, wikis, and social media. It provides tips for setting up blogs and using them effectively for student work. RSS feeds and email folders are recommended for managing digital content and communication. While digital tools allow for new ways to monitor student work, teachers should also maintain work-life balance and get support from colleagues when adopting new technologies.

1. The Digital Teacher:
Managing the workload and
choosing effective tools
Kelli McGraw
Queensland University of Technology
ETAQ Beginning Teachers’ Day 2012

2. Digital Digital
Teaching Learning
• Blogs • Twitter
Homework blogs @kmcg2375
Class publishing blogs @ETAQld
‘Character’ blogs @englishteachers
• Wikis #ozengchat
(Tuesday nights)
• Social media
Share bookmarks • TED Talks
YouTube sharing • Facebook
Twitter/Facebook (?)
http://www.facebook.com/ETAQLD

3. Making your class a
blog is easy…
Getting your class to
use a blog is hard.

4. http://englishteachinginoz.wordpress.com/

5. http://englishandthecurriculum.yolasite.com/

6. TOP TIPS:
• Be realistic about how long
students take to make a profile
• Don’t ‘double up’ – REPLACE
written homework with blog tasks
• Be a responsive moderator
• edublogs.org a good alternative
to school-based services

7. Wikis, blogs &
workflow:
Email folders and
RSS feeds = new
best friends!

8. Use your email folders
to sort student emails
by year/class/project.
+ ‘Poetry Blog’
folder for…

9. Using email or Google ‘Reader’:
Blog posts and comments can
be monitored via RSS feed.

11. Teaching in digital spaces requires/allows
students to develop their digital literacy.
You can scaffold this, or learn alongside them.

12. Digital and
online tools
allow teachers to
monitor student
work,
progress and
engagement
in new and
different ways.

13. TOP TIPS:
• Ask students to use their first
name only in online profiles
• Get students to make an ‘avatar’
that isn’t a photo of them
• Promote student use/knowledge of
school email addresses
• Set boundaries for when you will
be responding online.

14. BONUS SLIDE!
“How do I convince my HoD to let me use online
sites when school policy discourages this?”
1. Find evidence that a teacher at another school has
been allowed to do it.
2. Explain how your school’s public profile will benefit
from demonstrating innovative pedagogy.
3. Create the blog/wiki before you ask them – it will be
harder for them to refuse you if you’ve already put the
work in ;)
4. Present a plan for sending information and/or
permission notes home to parents.

15. Love your technology
…and your Learning Networks
• Embrace social media
Other English teachers are sharing;
YOU are in control of how much time you spend online!
@ETAQld
http://www.facebook.com/ETAQLD
• Be patient at school
Your teaching colleagues may not be as enthusiastic as
you…always try to see things from their point of view and lead by
example.
• Your digital footprint
Digital teaching = greater public visibility. Be aware, not alarmed.

16. Love your technology
…and your sanity!
• One class at a time
Trial new ideas e.g. homework blog with one
class first.
• Talk to your family
Don’t underestimate how much ‘home time’
you might be surrendering.
• Ask for help!
You can contact me too!
e.g. HoD, librarian, ETAQ
@kmcg2375
kelli.mcgraw@gmail.com
kellimcgraw.com