This document discusses the educational benefits of using blogs in the classroom and provides strategies for their practical implementation. Some key benefits mentioned are that blogs allow students to communicate globally, provide authentic writing experiences, and improve student motivation and writing quality. The document also provides examples of blogs used in middle school classrooms and tips for keeping student blogs safe, such as not including personal information and having teacher-monitored blogs. Overall, it promotes using blogs to enhance student learning and collaboration.

1. Using Blogs in the Classroom: The educational benefits and practical implementation strategies

2. Definitions Blog- combination of “web log”, written usually by one person, posted in chronological order, usually written about one topic Blogging- the process of writing on a blog Blogger- person who is responsible for the blog’s content

3. Educational Benefits Gives students the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with people from around the world Provides a larger audience for student writing Provides an authentic writing experience Postings can be created any time, any place Improves student motivation for writing and quality of writing Gives students opportunity for feedback outside of the classroom

4. Blogs in Education Middle School Diaries- http://www.middleweb.com/mw/aaDiaries.html Room 613 Student Blogs- http://hetherington0607.learnerblogs.org/ The Clem 113- http://visitmyclass.com/blogs/burnett/default.aspx Daffodil Delight- http:// rakes.blogspot.com /

5. Keep Students Safe No personal information No last names No personal phots Usernames without personal information Unique passwords Notify parents Set expectations Teach appropriate online behavior

6. Gaggle Blogs Teacher monitored and filtered Manage each student’s blog Inappropriate posts sent to you and not added

7. Set-up Your Own Blog Go to Gaggle.net and enter your account information. Follow the steps to creating an account.

8. Ready, Set, BLOG Create your first post now.

9. Let’s Share Blog titles Blog entries Time for posting comments

10. To Learn More Blogging for Beginners Video- http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=229a450fccda70056e12 Blogs in Education- http://awd.cl.uh.edu/blog/ Bloggers Blog- http://www.bloggersblog.com/education/ Weblogg-ed-http://weblogg-ed.com/ Top 100 Education Blogs- http://oedb.org/library/features/top-100-education-blogs

11. Other Popular Blogging Tools Blogger- https:// www.blogger.com /start Edublogs- http:// edublogs.org / Class Blogmeister- http://classblogmeister.com/