BloggingBlogging Transforming Writing for the Transforming Writing for the

2121stst Century Century

Transform Student WritingTransform Student Writing

Read Silently.Read Silently.

Highlight, underline, or make note of what Highlight, underline, or make note of what seems important to you.seems important to you.

Complete an outcome sentence. Complete an outcome sentence. (Instructions on the next slide.)(Instructions on the next slide.)

What is an Outcome Sentence?What is an Outcome Sentence?

Purpose: To inspire students to extract personal Purpose: To inspire students to extract personal learnings from school experiences and to promote learnings from school experiences and to promote the habit of learning from all of life’s experiences.the habit of learning from all of life’s experiences.Description: Asking students to reflect back on an Description: Asking students to reflect back on an experience and write endings to such phrases as experience and write endings to such phrases as I I learned…, I was surprised…, I’m beginning to learned…, I was surprised…, I’m beginning to wonder…wonder…Note that this strategy does not carry an Note that this strategy does not carry an expectation that all students will get the same expectation that all students will get the same learning from a lesson. The aim is for students to learning from a lesson. The aim is for students to construct meaningful, personal knowledge.construct meaningful, personal knowledge.

Complete one of the phrases below:Complete one of the phrases below:

I learned…I learned…

I was surprised…I was surprised…

I now realize…I now realize…

I would like to find out more about…I would like to find out more about…

I plan to…I plan to…

*Share your outcome sentence with your *Share your outcome sentence with your group. Choose a member from each group. Choose a member from each group to share with everyone.group to share with everyone.

What tool can we use to provide What tool can we use to provide authentic writing experiences?authentic writing experiences?

Blog (weblog):Blog (weblog):A blog is basically an online journal. A blog is basically an online journal.

The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger."

Postings on a blog are almost always arranged Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent in chronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominently. additions featured most prominently.

Blogs have been described as:Blogs have been described as:

An quick, easy way to create a websiteAn quick, easy way to create a website

A place to share thoughts and ideasA place to share thoughts and ideas

A way to connect with othersA way to connect with others

A way to collaborateA way to collaborate

A place to share knowledge with othersA place to share knowledge with others

A place to learn from other professionalsA place to learn from other professionals

A place to network with family and friendsA place to network with family and friends

How can blogs help me?How can blogs help me?

Examples of Blogs for EducatorsExamples of Blogs for Educators

www.Edutopia.org/blogswww.Edutopia.org/blogs

www.techlearning.com/section/Blogswww.techlearning.com/section/Blogs

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/

http://www.readingrockets.org/blogshttp://www.readingrockets.org/blogs

Find blogs you might like to follow:Find blogs you might like to follow:

Visit Blogsearch to find topics of interests:Visit Blogsearch to find topics of interests:

http://blogsearch.google.comhttp://blogsearch.google.com

What research says about blogging What research says about blogging in the classroom:in the classroom:

Increase in student interest in writing when Increase in student interest in writing when work is published online and it is subject to work is published online and it is subject to reader commentsreader commentsIncrease in student engagement and Increase in student engagement and communication among studentscommunication among studentsIncrease in higher order thinkingIncrease in higher order thinkingEnhanced critical thinking skillsEnhanced critical thinking skillsReduced feelings of isolationReduced feelings of isolationMotivates students to read and writeMotivates students to read and write

How can I use a blog in my How can I use a blog in my classroom?classroom?

Share informationShare informationCreate classroom communityCreate classroom communityFoster communication and collaborationFoster communication and collaborationPromote global awarenessPromote global awarenessPromote creativityPromote creativityInspire self-reflectionInspire self-reflectionDigital Portfolio (showcase student work)Digital Portfolio (showcase student work)Communicate with ParentsCommunicate with ParentsScaffold Learning and Mentoring (partner with Scaffold Learning and Mentoring (partner with older students)older students)

Examples of Classroom Blogs:Examples of Classroom Blogs:

http://misscox5.blogspot.comhttp://misscox5.blogspot.com

http://hill3rd.blogspot.comhttp://hill3rd.blogspot.com

http://mills5th.blogspot.com/http://mills5th.blogspot.com/

HandoutHandout

Ways to Use Blogs in the ClassroomWays to Use Blogs in the Classroom

While reading through the list, mark the ideas While reading through the list, mark the ideas you might like to try.you might like to try.

Share your favorite blog idea from the list with Share your favorite blog idea from the list with your group.your group.

With your group, chart other ways blogs can With your group, chart other ways blogs can be used for purposeful writing in your be used for purposeful writing in your classroom.classroom.

Post charts and share!Post charts and share!

Create your own blog!!!Create your own blog!!!

Go to www.blogger.comGo to www.blogger.com

Select: “Create A Blog”Select: “Create A Blog” Enter your information.Enter your information. Password should be:Password should be:

SimpleSimpleEasy to rememberEasy to rememberNo spacesNo spaces

Click on “Continue”Click on “Continue”

Name Your BlogName Your Blog

Name should be identifiableName should be identifiable

Write down your blog address Write down your blog address (URL)(URL) Try to keep this short as this is Try to keep this short as this is

what will need to be typed in what will need to be typed in each time blog is accessed.each time blog is accessed.

ContinueContinue

Choose a TemplateChoose a Template

Select a template (it can be Select a template (it can be changed)changed)

To customize your To customize your background later, visit:background later, visit:

http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/free.htmlhttp://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/free.html

Blogger ToolsBlogger Tools

FormattingFormatting

Settings:Settings:CommentsComments

• Be sure to select “Show Comments”Be sure to select “Show Comments”

• Under “Who Can Comment” –Select AnyoneUnder “Who Can Comment” –Select Anyone

• Select “Always” for Comment Moderation:Select “Always” for Comment Moderation:• You will get to approve messages before they You will get to approve messages before they

are posted for everyone to see.are posted for everyone to see.

• Word Verification: Select “No”Word Verification: Select “No”

• Be sure to save your settings!Be sure to save your settings!

CommentsComments

Your Blog – Creating a Your Blog – Creating a PostPost

Click here to add an image to your post.

Use a picture downloaded to your computer.

Copy the URL for a picture from the internet. (Ex: Google Images)

Inserting Images in PostsInserting Images in Posts

GadgetsGadgets

To add gadgets…To add gadgets…- Select the “Layout” tab- Select the “Layout” tab

-Then, select “Page Elements”-Then, select “Page Elements”

Click Here

Create A Poll…Create A Poll…

Simply type in Simply type in your question your question and answer and answer choices.choices.

Choose a Choose a closing time, closing time, and save! and save!

Create A Map…Create A Map…

Set up your map on www.clustrmaps.comSet up your map on www.clustrmaps.com

Post under the “HTML/JavaScript” Gadget ToolPost under the “HTML/JavaScript” Gadget Tool

Add a Live Traffic FeedAdd a Live Traffic Feed……- Go to www.feedjit.com- Go to www.feedjit.com

- Select “Widgets” and follow the steps.- Select “Widgets” and follow the steps.

Feedjit will post directly on the blog you are signed into.Feedjit will post directly on the blog you are signed into.

To add music to your blog…To add music to your blog…-Go to www.playlist.com and set up a playlist of -Go to www.playlist.com and set up a playlist of

songs.songs.-Add to HTML/JavaScript at bottom of layout.-Add to HTML/JavaScript at bottom of layout.

To add other gadgets, widgets, To add other gadgets, widgets, and tools…and tools…

Add any video, photo, or other web tool to your blog by Add any video, photo, or other web tool to your blog by using the HTML/JavaScript gadget tool.using the HTML/JavaScript gadget tool.

Copy and paste any HTML code into this box, and click save to

post on your blog.

Removing the “Next Blog” Removing the “Next Blog” ButtonButton

From the Blogger dashboard, click the Template button for the blog that you want to change. Make sure you have the tab labeled Edit HTML selected. You should see a window with a lot of HTML code in it on the screen. Scroll down just a little bit until you see something that looks like this:

body {

Below this "tag" will be HTML code that sets the appearance of your blog. Click above the body { text and enter this text:

#navbar-iframe {height: 0px;visibility: hidden;display: none;}

Select “Save Template Changes”

Need Help?Need Help?

Blogger’s Help is excellent and Blogger’s Help is excellent and updated often:updated often:

http://help.blogger.com/http://help.blogger.com/