tesl canada 2014

Using Blogs for

Online and

Classroom Teaching

Jana CiobanuDr. Sally Zhao

TESL Canada Conference 2014

Using Blogs for Online and Classroom Teaching

• What is a blog ?• Types of blogs used in teaching ESL• Tutor Blog• Using a blog in teaching online and in the

classroom• How to create a blogger blog• How to upload: links, pictures, videos, PPT, etc.

WHAT IS A BLOG?

A blog is:• short for web log• a personal website or web page on which an

individual records opinions, links to other sites, etc. on a regular basis.(Google Blogger)

Why blog?• to share information• to teach Ss English

Whose idea was it?Dave Winer

• developed the first blogging

software

• started blogging in 1994

TYPES OF BLOGS USED IN TEACHING

Aaron Campbell (2003): identified 3 blogs to use in the ESL classroom:

• The Tutor Blog-run by the tutor for the learners

• The Class Blog- the whole class collaborates

• The Learner Blog-either run by individual learners themselves or by small collaborative groups of learners

TUTOR BLOG

• a new teaching and learning tool• motivates students to explore the Internet• run by the teacher of the class• gives students access to different online web-sites

appropriate for their level• a resource of links for self-study• provides syllabus information and an up-date on the

daily news of the class/school

http://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/

http://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/

Using Tutor Blogs in the Classroom

Use it for teaching:

• Listening• Speaking• Reading• Writing• Grammar• Pronunciation

Listening http://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/2012/01/themes.html

• Listen to different conversations and do some cloze activities

• Listen to other students’ presentations and do a peer assessment as well as a self-assessment

• Listen to the recent news and take notes

• Listen to songs and stories and answer either multiple-choice questions or comprehension ones

• Watch videos and write summaries

• Watch movie trailers and answer multiple-choice questions

Speakinghttp://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/

• Give presentations

• Have Ss watch their peers’ presentations

• Have Ss do a peer assessment

• Use online conversation q-s and practice speaking

• Ss record their conversation using the online voice recorder

READINGhttp://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/search?q=reading

• Read stories, articles, the latest news, etc.• Learn new words• Do individual reading at home• Listen and read along• Learn idioms and use an idiomatic dictionary• Use different dictionaries

WRITINGhttp://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/search?q=writing

• Write dictations• Practice spelling • Use PPt-s to teach new concepts• Learn how to write paragraphs, essays,

reports, etc.• Chat with Tutor Mike(the online robot)

PRONUNCIATION

http://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/search?q=pronunciation

• Ss practice pronunciation with an online tutor

• Record students' short presentations, role-plays, speeches, etc. using the online voice recorder

• Ss watch pronunciation videos on YouTube

GRAMMARhttp://linc5ft.blogspot.ca/search?q=grammar

• teach grammar using the available Power-Point Presentations

• have students practice grammar using online exercises

• assess Ss with the help of different quizzes, tests, etc.

• practice grammar and spelling by chatting with Tutor Mike

• play grammar games

• write dictations

Using a Blog in Teaching Online

• Provide online resources appropriate for their level

• Create an online portfolio of students’ written work

• Post handouts, notices, homework assignments, etc.

• Use the blog for independent study• Use the blog for peer assessment

Where to start? Sites where you can set up a blog for free:

• Blogger-www.blogger.com• Weebly- http://www.weebly.com• WordPress- http://wordpress.com/• Blogtery- http://blogetery.com/

How to create a blog?Blogger Getting Started Guidehttps://support.google.com/blogger/answer/1623800?hl=en

Creating a Blogger Blog in under 5 Minuteshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP68-mIpBO0

How to Publish a Blog Posthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX4KSiQbVW4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ5uFPBtyhU

How to upload stuff?• Videos• Pictures• PPT-s• Texts• Audio Files• Files

Any Questions?

THANK YOU

Contact Info

Jana Ciobanujanaciobanu@yahoo.com

Dr. Sally Zhao

linc@immigrant-education.ca