Title: Weblogs in Education
1Weblogs in Education
- New Jersey Association of School Administrators
- TECHSPO 2004 ConferenceJanuary 29, 2004
2Agenda
- Welcome Intros
- Objectives
- Blogging Basics Confessions of a Newbie
- Best-Practice Blogs an Interactive Tour
- QA
- Simulated via screen shots
3Objectives
- Knowledge
- Describe Blogs
- List main parts
- Blog Models
Application Live Blogs Key Trends Resources
Comprehension Explain Use Discuss Issues Building
Blogs
- Simulated via screen shots
4Kevin Jarrett Technology Facilitator,
K-8Northfield Community School
5Blogging Basics Confessions of a Newbie
- Blogs a working definition
- How I got started
- Fascinations frustrations
- Where I am now
6Blogs a Working Definition
- Blogs are websites, in a journal format, that
present content in a way that promotes group
collaboration - Blogs use simple forms to make adding content
(publishing) very easy - Knowledge of HTML helpful (not required)
7Blogs a Working Definition
- Components
- Blogging software (web or local server)
- Template (formatting, layout)
- Posts (content)
- Hosting (yours or theirs)
8How I Got Started
- Wanted an easy way to update my site
- Researched, chose Blogger.com
- Taught myself how to modify templates using
Dreamweaver - Soon began envisioning classroom applications
9Web Log Characteristics
- Posts are in reverse chronological ordermost
recent first. - Updated on a regular basis, sometimes daily
- Most Web logs are written in an informal, first
person style and are filled with opinion. - Most hyperlink to or reference news and
information from other sites many connections. -
10Web Log Characteristics
- Primarily text, but Web logs can include all
sorts of multimedia files - Invite comment and interaction from readers
- Searchable archives
11Masthead
Dateline
Blogroll
Links
Comments
Posts
Hypertext
12(No Transcript)
13(No Transcript)
14(No Transcript)
15(No Transcript)
16Fascinations Frustrations
The Bad The Ugly
The Good
- EASY to create, use maintain
- Professional look
- Innovative technology
- Many Blog services
- Template editing
- Server downtime?
- Many Blog services
- Acceptable Use issues?
17Where I Am Now
- Currently maintain four Blogs
- Primary educational application is a technology
resource portal for fellow teachers in my K-8
district - 4th grade class collaborative blogging project
completed last November - Considering using Blogs for teacher pages,
special projects, school website
18Will Richardson Supervisor of Instructional
TechnologyHunterdon Central Regional High School
19Why Weblogs?
- Weblogs have a number of characteristics that
make them interesting as classroom tools. - Easy to createmost blogging software packages
come with ready made professional looking designs
that you can personalize if you like. And most
have you up and creating content in a matter of
minutes. - Access from anywhere with an Internet
connectionStarbucks, the in-laws, soon on
planes. You dont need special to read and update
Weblogs.
20Why Weblogs?
- Audience and communicationWeblogs allow you to
publish to a large audience or a targeted one
depending on your needs. And it allows that
audience to interact by leaving comments. - 4. CollaborativeThe ability to share space means
you can invite almost anyone into the
conversation. - 5. Knowledge Management and ArchivingBy keeping
thoughts or projects or ideas in a Weblog, it
becomes an online filing cabinet with different
folders, and its searchable as well.
21Why Weblogs? (Cont)
- 6. MultimediaWeblogs can make use of audio and
video, and some can store files of other types
for easy retrieval. - 7. HypertextWeblogs allow for easy linking to
research and sources of information. - 8. Low costMost Weblog software is either free
or relatively inexpensive, depending on your
needs.
22Weblogs in Schools
- There have been some really interesting examples
of use in schools as teaching tools and as
communication tools.
Online Filing Cabinet Collaborative Learning
Space Online Discussion Professional
Development School Website Library
Portal Information/Communication
23Weblogs in the ClassroomOnline Filing Cabinet
- Students and teachers can use the Web log as a
place to store assignments, plans, handouts, etc.
Susan L.
24Weblogs in the ClassroomCollaborative Learning
Space
- Students can extend conversations outside of the
classroom, and collaborate with invited guests
from around the world.
The Secret Life of Bees /Author
25Weblogs in the ClassroomOnline Discussion
- Weblogs can work as a discussion group for
students and staff.
Honors Sociology / Discussion
26Weblogs in the ClassroomProfessional
Development
- New (or veteran) teachers can use Weblogs as
portfolios or as an archived discussion of their
practice with mentors .
Entry Year Teacher
27Weblogs in SchoolsWeblog as Website
- Schools can use a distributed content creation
model when using Weblogs as Websites.
Lewis Elementary
28Weblogs in SchoolsLibrary Portal
- Galileo High School Library in San Francisco uses
a Weblog as its gateway to students and staff
Li-blog-ary
29Weblogs in SchoolsInformation/Communication
- Weblogs can provide a great way to manage
knowledge, from committee work to historical
artifacts.
Technology Committee
30Weblogs in Schools
- Reams and reams of digital paper for students,
teachers and administrators to create with.
31Weblogs in the ClassroomWriting Instruction
- Blogging as Genre--Critical thinking, information
literacy, research, collaboration and composition
skills. - 1. Find and read material that is relevant to
your life. - 2. Capture the essence of this relevant reading,
give credit to its source, and synthesize those
ideas into a piece of writing that advances a
personal, perhaps greater understanding of that
topic - 3. Publish that writing for response and for
perhaps pushing someone elses thinking on the
subject. - 4. Read some more.
32Weblogs in the ClassroomWriting Instruction
33Web Log Options
- Free Web log software on the Internet
- Blogger
- moTime
- Many others
- Software for local installation
- Manila--295 a year for up to 3,000 sites
- Moveable TypeFree to schools
- Pay Web logs with hosting
- Type Pad--_at_30 a year with a limit on space
34Web Log Considerations
- Software -- all Web log software is not the same.
Teachers need to find the best tool for intended
use, and should think about ease of use, depth of
content, collaboration, etc. - Access -- not all students have the same amount
of access - Privacy -- posts can be accessible by anyone, or
can be only viewed locally (intranet) depending
on software. Collaboration and feedback can be
limited and moderated depending on software.
35Web Log Considerations
- Time and Support -- planning and set-up take
time, and tech support is required. - Assessment -- what and how.
- Server issues -- local server use is best since
files are more secure. Remote storage may result
in loss of content. - Paradigm Shift -- distributed content model
requires a change of thinking on the part of
teachers and administrators.
36Thank You! Questions?
- Kevin Jarrett, kjarrett_at_atlanticava.org
Technology Facilitator, K-8Northfield Community
SchoolNorthfield, NJ
- Will Richardson, wrichard_at_hcrhs.k12.nj.us
- Supervisor of Instructional TechnologyHunterdon
Central Regional High SchoolFlemington, NJ