Blogs : Do I Need a

Vaccine for That?

A Presentation of Excellent Educational Practices

The teacher next door has a Blog. Is she contagious? Does she need a doctor?

Does the word Blog make you feel like this?

If so You are Not Alone!!!!!

Technology does not necessarily improve education. Take a simple innovation like the pencil: One can use it to write a superlative essay, to drum away the time, or to poke

out someone’s eye.

Shirley Veenema and Howard Garner

What is a Blog?• A blog is a Web-publishing concept

that enables anyone to publish information on the Internet.

• The term blog is the shortened form of web log.

• Blogs are easy to use and require NO knowledge of HTML and other “technical terms”.

Why use a Blog in the Classroom?

• It allows 24/7 communication with stakeholders.

• It provides students with an exciting and authentic purpose for writing.

• Writing is done in a safe, controlled environment monitored by the teacher.

Why use a Blog in the Classroom?• Trends seems to indicate that

students’ interest in and quantity of writing increases when their work is published online and subjected to reader comments.

• It allows students to become efficient users of technology on a daily basis.

How Can Blogs be used in the Classrooom?

• EduBlog Insights October 5th, 2004 http://anne.teachesme.com/2004/10/05

• Weblogs in Education: A Video by Will Richardson

• Elementary Students Talk About Blogging

Examples of Talladega County Blogs

• http://kimsmithwick.edublogs.org – Kim Broadhead, WES

http://nicholsenglish.edublogs.org – Mysti Nichols, LHS

http://jenniferbarnett.edublogs.org – Jennifer Barnett, FHS

http://ccwales.edublogs.org – Cecilia Wales, FHS http://watwoodmediacenter.edublogs.org – Kitty

Forbus, WES

Examples of Good Blogs!

•Talladega City Schools: Talladega, ALhttp://talladegacityschools.blogspot.com/

•It’s About Time! Organization & Time Management

http://frankbuck.blogspot.com/****See instructions for removing “Next Blog”

tab

More Good Blogs• The Cool Cat Teacher Blog

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com

• Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnsonhttp://doug-jphnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog

The Tech Savy Teacherhttp://techsavyed.net

Mrs. Elliot’s Fourth Gradehttp://elliottsmissouri.blogspot.com/

The Duck Diarieshttp://duckdiaries.edublogs.org/

How To Start a Blog

• Blogger www.blogspot.com• Edublogs www.edublogs.org• Blogmeister

www.classblogmeister.com• My Blog Site

www.myblogsite.com• Many others…

Blog Prayer

• Please grant me the serenity to accept the pages

I cannot edit,The courage to edit the pages I

can,And the wisdom to know the

difference.

Remember….When you begin your first Blog, this will be a learning experience. Mistakes will be made and problems will arise. Have confidence, try, admit when you need help, but most of all have fun!!!

The Point…

•Keep trying until it works for you!

Are you ready to take the technology plunge?