Dragging Lee and Grantinto the Blogosphere

Using Web 2.0 Tools for Primary Source Document Research and Writing

Cliff Happy, Donna Hutchison, and Daniel MoixArkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts

History @ ASMSA

• Interdisciplinary• Alternative Assessment

History @ ASMSA

• Interdisciplinary• Alternative Assessment

History @ ASMSA

• Interdisciplinary• Alternative Assessment

History @ ASMSA

• Interdisciplinary• Alternative Assessment

Blog Idea

Purpose:• Deeper understanding• Individual effects• Strategy/Policy • Primary source use• Historical writing

Just One Problem…

We’re like oil and water– Moix nearly failed AmStud– Happy & Hutch “Don’t know

nothing about no blogs.”

Blog Project Parameters

• Students select characters• Ten focus events, one per day• Characters create one post

and two comments daily• Writing reflects period,

supported by resources• Citations

The Good

The Bad

The Outstanding

Expectations

• Greater knowledge of period and events• Deeper understanding of

personal cost of decisions• Refine research skills• Familiarity with primary source

documents• Articulate historical viewpoints

Surprises

• Avalanche of grading• Students revealed skills/voices

unseen before• Time constraints for students• Quality of research• Disconnect between student/

character identities

Lessons Learned• Fewer focus events• Lengthen commenting period• Grade with RSS reader• Take more time with project

Teacher Resource Site

Teacher Resource Site

Teacher Resource Site

Photo Credits

http://flickr.com/photos/prachigauriar/3204278047/

Photos used under Creative Commons License

http://flickr.com/photos/artsyt/1412437516/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99876567@N00/53761853/

Photo Credits

http://www.flickr.com/photos/minilaura/2279151013/

Photos used under Creative Commons License

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26454479@N06/2981140469/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81851211@N00/141381675/