LIVE! Technology Tutorial

Blogging

Jade Ballek – November 2012

One mic on at a time prevents feedback “Raise Hand” feature in the Menu “Chat” feature

Jade.ballek@sunwestsd.ca

Using Bridgit – Q and A

Provide a brief background to blogs Explore how blogs can be used in the

classroom Explore steps in getting started with

creating your own blog

Webinar Goals

Originally “web log” – shortened to blog Information presented in reverse chronological order; most

recent information is seen first Most blogs are interactive; readers encouraged to leave

comments which is why it is viewed as a form of social networking

Educational blogs, or edublogs, serve as instructional resources

“On October 13, 2012, there were around 77 million Tumblr[5] and 56.6 million WordPress[6] blogs in existence worldwide.”

Image from Wikipedia

Background: What is a blog?

5 Uses of Blogging The following 5 uses have been extracted

from Educational Blogging by Stephen Downes in the Educase Review.

Instructors post class times and rules, assignment notifications, suggested readings, and exercises.

The blog becomes an organizing tool (Online “Filing Cabinet”)

1. Class Web Page/Organizer

Instructors begin to link to Internet items that relate to their course.

Using the technology is not viewed as an “add on”, but instead an important skill in the learning process.

2. Integrate Technology in Meaningful Way

“The conversation possible on the weblog is also an amazing tool to develop our community of learners. The students get to know each other better by visiting and reading blogs from other students. They discover, in a non-threatening way, their similarities and differences.

The student who usually talks very loud in the classroom and the student who is very timid have the same writing space to voice their opinion. It puts students in a situation of equity.”

3. Facilitate In-Class Discussions

A blog can serve as a Digital Portfolio where students can share their learning with others, including parents, peers, and a global audience.

A blog can also document the learning process, offering students, parents, and teachers a chance to observe change and growth.

Kathy Cassidy

4. Students Show What They Know

Blogs are an amazing way for learners to reach out to others across the globe.

Partnerships can be created among schools in different parts of the Division, or different parts of the world!

5. Connect with a Global Audience

Link

Examples of how teachers use blogs in their high school classroom (video)

The Benefits of Blogging

As an educator, the first step is to think about the reasons you want to blog with your students.

What is the purpose of the blog? ◦ Do you want to document the learning process? Is

your purpose to share a final product? ◦ Are you hoping to provide students an opportunity

to receive feedback from others? ◦ Is the intent to provide a space for reflection?

Defining the purpose is key!

Why do you want to blog?

Getting Started

1. Share the purpose of the blog – with students, with parents, with Administrators

2. Determine your audience – who is in and who is out?

3. Select a blog hosting site – Blogger, Kidblog, ClassBlogmeister …

4. Educate students about responsibilities – AUP

5. Explore other blogs

First Steps

Sun West Acceptable Use

The Rules of the “Road”

Image fromSGI site

Web Quest Presentations

◦ Lead Teacher◦ Learning Consultant◦ Supervisor of Technology

Co-constructing Rules◦ It is a good idea to create a list of “rules” for

acceptable use when adding content to a blog. ◦ Setting the expectations in advance, and

developing consequences can help prevent issues from developing.

Learning the Rules

Selecting a Blog Host

Settings allow teachers to control who sees the blog and who can edit content on the blog

Supporting Technology Wikispace

For More Information