Blog On Social Networking in an Elementary Classroom

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Blog On! Social Networking in an Elementary
Classroom

• Jay Monson
• Grade 5 Teacher
• Duluth Public Schools

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Youre Here, Now What?

• You will learn how blogs impact an elementary
  classroom and improve achievement in writing
• You will be informed about how wikis can generate
  ideas and serve as a global connection to others
• You will see how social bookmarking expands
  resource opportunities for teachers, students and
  families
• You will hear how online photo albums help
  students relive their year and share experiences
• You will see how podcasting enhances student
  learning and makes writing come alive to others
  around the world

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What do you know?

• Blogs?
• Wikis?
• Social Bookmarking?
• Online Photo Sharing?
• Podcasting?

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My Classroom Yesterday

• Started teaching with four networked Computers in
  Grade 2 in the Mankato Public Schools back in
  1994
• Spent three years as the computer specialist for
  grades K-6 at Nettleton Magnet Elementary School
• Taught HyperStudio, digital video production,
  web page creation and other creativity or
  application-based technology lessons

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My Classroom Today

• Grade 5 at Nettleton Magnet Elementary School in
  Duluth
• SMART Board
• Document Camera
• Classroom set of Senteo Responders
• Access to two computer labs and a wireless laptop
  cart

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Why Social Networking?

• Past computer integration successes were not
  worth the efforts
• Measured improvement in student achievement in
  writing
• Communication is a basic goal of all
  education-communicating creativity, ideas and
  solutions
• Kids are going to use it regardless of us

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Our Classroom Blog

• Utilizes David Warlicks blog creation tool
  http//classblogmeister.com
• Our Blog Address http//monsonclassroom.org
• Used to share writing, comment and receive
  comments on writing and communicate classroom
  activities and resources to families and the world

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Do you need to know more about blogs?Click
BelowCommoncrafts Blogs in Plain English
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Our Classroom BlogStudent Requirements

• Used daily or multiple times a week with students
• Students use familiar paper/pencil writing
  process (pre-write, rough draft, edit, rewrite,
  publish)
• Writing is sent to the teacher for approval,
  further editing, commenting and publishing to the
  blog

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Our Classroom BlogTeacher Requirements

• Obtain a teacher code from David Warlick on
  http//classblogmeister.com
• Initial set-up time of 30 minutes to one hour
• Weekly time commitment of 15 minutes to one hour
  depending on the week

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Our Classroom Blog
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Do You See A Use for Blogs in Education?

• No! I wish hed just be done so I could go to my
  hotel room and watch Oprah
• Yes! Turn to a neighbor and tell him/her how you
  could see using blogs in your classroom

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Our Classroom Wiki

• Utilizes the free wiki creation tool at
  http//wikispaces.com
• Our wiki address is http//monsonclassroom.wikisp
  aces.com
• Used to share and gather basic writing ideas as
  well as read responses from around the world

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Do you need to know more about wikis?Click
BelowCommoncrafts Wikis in Plain English
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Our Classroom Wiki Student Requirements

• Used monthly or more with students
• Students use paper/pencil writing process as well
  as collaboration to create lists and ideas
• Writing is entered on the wiki by the author or
  by select students

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Our Classroom Wiki Teacher Requirements

• Create a Wikispaces account
• Initial set-up time of 30 minutes to one hour
• Weekly time commitment of 15 minutes maximum
• Select a responsible, tech savvy student to do a
  lot of work for you

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Our Classroom Wiki
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Do You See A Use for Wikis in Education?

• No! I really wish hed just be done so I could
  stop talking to strangers
• Yes! Turn to a neighbor and tell him/her how you
  could see using wikis in your classroom

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Our Classroom Bookmarks

• Utilizes the free social bookmarking site at
  http//delicious.com
• Our bookmark address is http//delicious.com/mons
  onclassroom
• Used as a way to share web resources with
  students, families and other educators

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Do you need to know more about social
bookmarking?Click BelowCommoncrafts Social
Bookmarking in Plain English
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Our Classroom Bookmarks Teacher Requirements

• Create a Delicious account
• Initial set-up time of one hour maximum
• Weekly time commitment of 15 minutes maximum

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Our Classroom Bookmarks
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Do You See A Use for Social Bookmarking in
Education?

• No! Social Bookmarking is for obsessive
  compulsive Internet users
• Yes! Turn to a neighbor and tell him/her how you
  could see using social bookmarking in your
  classroom

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Our Classroom Photos

• Utilizes the free, photo sharing tool at
  http//flickr.com
• Our photo address is http//flickr.com/photos/mon
  sonclassroom
• Used to share images of our classroom and
  activities of our students as well as to give
  students a visual scrapbook of their school year

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Our Classroom Photos Teacher Requirements

• Create a Flickr account
• Initial set-up time of 30 minutes maximum
• Weekly time commitment of 15 minutes maximum

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Our Classroom Photos
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Do You See A Use for Online Photo Albums in
Education?

• No! I barely like looking at people in the mirror
• Yes! Turn to a neighbor and tell him/her how you
  could see using online photo albums in your
  classroom

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Podcasting

• Weekly phenology observations with John Latimer
  from KAXE radio
• Audio versions of kids writing
• Other audio-based learning opportunities from
  around the world

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Do you need to know more about podcasting?Click
BelowCommoncrafts Podcasting in Plain English
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Other Social Networking Tools

• Library Thing http//www.librarything.com
• Voice Thread http//voicethread.com
• There are a ton more, carefully pick and choose
  the flashy from the meaningful

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Obstacles

• CIPA Internet Filter
• Knowledge and Technological Support
• Computer Access
• Technology Staff

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Negatives of Social Networking

• Inappropriate Use
• Privacy Concerns

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Positives of Social Networking

• Global connections
• Increased writing achievement level
• Increased motivation for writing
• Increased amount of learning resources
• Community building within the classroom and school

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Positives of Social Networking

• Increased global awareness
• Increased technology fluency
• Multi-platform, uni-software (just a browser
  needed)
• Increased appropriate use of social networking
  tools
• Free (or mostly free) tools

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Social Networking and ISTE NETS

• Creativity and Innovation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Research and Information Fluency
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision
  Making
• Digital Citizenship

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Future of Social Networking?

• Do our students need to be able to effectively
  communicate their creativity, ideas or solutions?
• Will our students need to use social networking
  tools in the future?
• Will our students use social networking tools
  regardless of us? If so, what can we do about it?

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Need More Information?

• monsonclassroom_at_gmail.com