Using Blogs in the Classroom

Presenters:Gail Gaetz & Chery TakkunenEducation Department

Quotes

It will take a writing revolution to get the emphasis on language arts and communication back to where it should be.

Writing should be taught in all curricular areas.

The amount of time spent writing should be doubled.

National Commission on Writing

Blogs

Offer authentic audiences

Blog……word of the year!

Blog– An online journal available on the web

Blogging– The activity of updating a blog

Blogger– A person who blogs

What is a Blog?

Blog is slang for web log

Communication medium

Personal online journal

Focuses on a particular topic or area of interest to the writer

Blogs

are a popular cultural phenomenon developed outside of schools.

are chronological: Most current postings appear first.

offer authentic audiences

How do you create a blog?

Many online free blog websites

Websites provide online design templates

New bloggers need to register and name the blog site

Free blog websites:

– Blogger

– Live Journal

– Xanga

Why use a blog?

Provides a space for a writer to consider new ideas while connecting to learning

Provides a paperless way to journal

Allows the use of sharing ideas in a multimedia format

Provides others a way to comment on bloggers ideas

Why blog cont.

Provides an immediate authentic audience Highly motivating for most learners Students can engage in course readings,

discussions and text in ways that may be difficult through oral discussion

Allows individuals to become active participants

Ideas for Blogs

Possibilities

Where can I found out more about using blogs?

Will Richardson’s Blog What We’re Doing When We Blog – Meg

Hourihan Center for Technology and Teacher Educatio

n’s Blogging Activities Page

A blog about blogs in the classroom

Interdisciplinary course: Language arts, children’s literature, and technology

Management issues Wanted a running record Quick turn around of product Easy to grade: from home or at school Try a new technology

Why? BLOGS: EDU 2500 Communication Arts Methods Course

Example: Journal Question: Book: The Invisible Thread

While reading this book, focus on the element of point of view and moral dilemma presented in the story.

1. The reader gets the perspective of a Japanese American’s point of view about the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Describe, from Yokshiko’s point of view, what this internment camp was like. Use examples from the story to clarify your response.

2. The moral dilemma in this story is whether it was right to intern Japanese Americans during WWII. After reading this book, what is your opinion of this decision? Has the book altered your views in any way? If so, what ways?

Responses

Blog Example #1– Classroom blog

Blog Example #2– This teacher has class blog on Secret Life of Bees

Blog Example #3– Students blog about their reaction to course text

Blog Example #4– Students blog about their response to literature

More

Idioms are fun Jefferson Bear Blog Yessenia’s web log

– This fifth grade student writes and blogs

Challenges: Teachers and students say…

Students forgot passwords Wrong addresses Created new blogs; forgot their old

addresses Couldn’t comment online: used email However, these issues were temporary and

after a couple of weeks this passed

Benefits: Teachers and Students say..

Easy to manage: No papers Archives assignments Peers and teacher can comment online Students liked them Easy to access: Example: Management Tip

Things to consider

District supportKids NOT giving out personal informationTeacher could control and set up blogStudents could keep track of work and blog

together to share research Online literature circleSupports any subject area

Quote

PPS Intstructional Technology Weblog