Download - Live! technology Tutorial Blogging
LIVE! Technology Tutorial
Blogging
Jade Ballek – November 2012
One mic on at a time prevents feedback “Raise Hand” feature in the Menu “Chat” feature
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
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