Using Kidblog to Create Student ePortolios
in the World Language classroom (or really any classroom where students write or create anything! :)
I amLauren Beversdorf (school blog) [email protected]
a TPRS or CI-based (teaching method explained) K-8 Spanish Teacher
a 13 year veteran teacher from Bannockburn School
a NBCT World Languages EAYA-National Board Certification
a 21st Century Teacher @weens11 @espanolBannockb YouTube
happy to be here sharing and learning with you all
also a yoga instructor :) (life blog)
open to any questions, thoughts, comments you have!
Who are all of you?
Before we begin I like to know who I am speaking with…
Just a show of hands…
grades taught, classes taught, languages, type of school, technology experience, resources available…
How I began…In 2009, Silvia Tolisano came to our school…
Here’s Silvia’s 108 page guide to digital storytelling…
Twitter & Blogging
Global Classroom
*Heutagogy - is the study of self-determined learning
Just a couple notes, to understand more about my teaching environment and available resources
I have my own laptop provided to me by my school.
My 3rd-8th grade students also have a laptop assigned to them and available for every day use.
I have an iPad provided to me by my school.
I have a classroom set of 24 iPads that my Kindergarten-8th grade students put to use on a daily basis.
BUT! When I began all of this, I did not have any of the above, I began with my laptop and a computer lab for students.
What is an ePortfolio?
"An electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the web, such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, an hyperlinks." (Wikipedia)
"An ePortfolio (electronic portfolio) is designed as a digital archive of student's learning and academic growth over a period of time. The ePortfolio highlights achievements, skills, interests, and reflections. The ePortfolio will naturally tell a complete learning story of the student." (Corie Quattrocchi)
Choose a platformKidblog: easy, simple, safe and free: Website size 500MB, individual upload size is 9 MB
Kidblog makes it easy to publish rich multimedia content. Seamlessly embed slideshows, videos, podcasts, artwork, Google Docs, and your favorite Web 2.0 tools like Storybird, Animoto, Glogster, etc. All in a single, secure e-portfolio that you’ll be proud to show parents and colleagues. (Kidblog)
More on PlatformOther Popular platforms:
-Edublog- free for teachers, students $8 per month or 40 per year
-Weebly- free, $4, $8 per month
-Ning-$25,$49,$99 per month
-Moodle- free, donations
WordPress-free
Blogger-free
Why Kidblog?unique among the web tools featured because it is built by teachers for teachers
provides teachers with everything they need to help students create their digital portfolios safely
gives teachers administrative control over student blogs and accounts
Though Kidblog is private by default, teachers can choose to make posts public or password-protected.
Kidblog is fully COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) compliant and does not require any personal information from students.
More on why Kidblog
Kidblog is designed for primary and secondary teachers who want to provide each student with an individual blog.
Students publish posts and participate in academic discussions within a secure classroom blogging community.
Teachers maintain complete control over student blogs and user accounts.
Benefits of an ePortfolio
keep a record of work in one place
can include different forms of student work
show achievements (students and teachers)
shows best work and allows for creativity, critical thinking, validation of student work
use through the year and through school career
allows for reflection on work
connect with parents
connect with other schools, states, countries
In the ClassroomCollect Evidence (standards)
Student choices
Student Responses (entry and overall)
may want to provide prompts
Reach out to Parents (guest accounts)
Use Teacher's Blog for classroom announcements
Different content for class vs. career
After the School Year
Kidblog can be used as career e-portfolios.
Teachers have 3 options- delete, freeze, or use class code
Career e-portfolios may be better with students personal blogs not directly connected to a class.
Examples on student’s blogs
6th grade example-My name is Rosalinda
7th grade example-The Shark and José
8th grade example-All About Me
Commenting/Feedback
Connect
Compliment
Add info
Ask a question
Teaching my students to use images properlyShort & Sweet version - I tell them, “use one word on a Google image search + clip art”
Copyright, Fair Use, & Creative Commons
More detailed site Copyright and Fair Use
Very detailed gov site about Copyright and Fair Use
Questions, comments, concerns, feedback?
We have MANY iPad apps/websites that we use to tell our stories and create our ePortfolios…all that I did to find them was explore, try, fail and try some more!
links/reflection/join/makeList of iPad apps!
Click on link——->
iPad applications to bring your written stories to life!
http://tinyurl.com/qaxbxwblink to JOIN Kidblog doc
Links to all my Kidblogs
Student Opinions
Student Opinions
Student Opinions
Student Opinions
Student Opinions
Student Opinions
Student Opinions
Questions, comments, concerns, feedback?
We have MANY iPad apps/websites that we use to tell our stories and create our ePortfolios…all that I did to find them was explore, try, fail and try some more!