Using Blogs in the Classroom

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Using Blogs in the Classroom

• Presenters
• Gail Gaetz Chery Takkunen
• Education Department

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Quotes

• It will take a writing revolution to get the
  emphasis on language arts and communication back
  to where it should be.
• Writing should be taught in all curricular areas.
• The amount of time spent writing should be
  doubled.
• National Commission on Writing

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Blogs

• Offer authentic audiences

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Blogword of the year!

• Blog
• An online journal available on the web
• Blogging
• The activity of updating a blog
• Blogger
• A person who blogs

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What is a Blog?

• Blog is slang for web log
• Communication medium
• Personal online journal
• Focuses on a particular topic or area of interest
  to the writer

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Blogs

• are a popular cultural phenomenon developed
  outside of schools.
• are chronological Most current postings appear
  first.
• offer authentic audiences

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How do you create a blog?

• Many online free blog websites
• Websites provide online design templates
• New bloggers need to register and name the blog
  site

• Free blog websites
• Blogger
• Live Journal
• Xanga

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Why use a blog?

• Provides a space for a writer to consider new
  ideas while connecting to learning
• Provides a paperless way to journal
• Allows the use of sharing ideas in a multimedia
  format
• Provides others a way to comment on bloggers
  ideas

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Why blog cont.

• Provides an immediate authentic audience
• Highly motivating for most learners
• Students can engage in course readings,
  discussions and text in ways that may be
  difficult through oral discussion
• Allows individuals to become active participants

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Ideas for Blogs

• Possibilities

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Where can I found out more about using blogs?

• Will Richardsons Blog
• What Were Doing When We Blog Meg Hourihan
• Center for Technology and Teacher Educations
  Blogging Activities Page
• A blog about blogs in the classroom

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Why? BLOGS EDU 2500 Communication Arts Methods
Course

• Interdisciplinary course Language arts,
  childrens literature, and technology
• Management issues
• Wanted a running record
• Quick turn around of product
• Easy to grade from home or at school
• Try a new technology

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Example Journal Question Book The Invisible
Thread

• While reading this book, focus on the element of
  point of view and moral dilemma presented in the
  story.
• 1. The reader gets the perspective of a Japanese
  Americans point of view about the internment of
  Japanese Americans during WWII. Describe, from
  Yokshikos point of view, what this internment
  camp was like. Use examples from the story to
  clarify your response.
• 2. The moral dilemma in this story is whether it
  was right to intern Japanese Americans during
  WWII. After reading this book, what is your
  opinion of this decision? Has the book altered
  your views in any way? If so, what ways?

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Responses

• Blog Example 1
• Classroom blog
• Blog Example 2
• This teacher has class blog on Secret Life of
  Bees
• Blog Example 3
• Students blog about their reaction to course text
• Blog Example 4
• Students blog about their response to literature

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More

• Idioms are fun
• Jefferson Bear Blog
• Yessenias web log
• This fifth grade student writes and blogs

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Challenges Teachers and students say

• Students forgot passwords
• Wrong addresses
• Created new blogs forgot their old addresses
• Couldnt comment online used email
• However, these issues were temporary and after a
  couple of weeks this passed

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Benefits Teachers and Students say..

• Easy to manage No papers
• Archives assignments
• Peers and teacher can comment online
• Students liked them
• Easy to access Example Management Tip

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Things to consider

• District support
• Kids NOT giving out personal information
• Teacher could control and set up blog
• Students could keep track of work and blog
  together to share research
• Online literature circle
• Supports any subject area

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Quote

• PPS Intstructional Technology Weblog