GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THOSE LITTLE BLOGS
Nick Shaw ([email protected])
Discussion Points
1) What is a Blog and Why do them?
2) Blogging and Inquiry Learning
3) Assessment and the Key Competencies
4) Reflective Blogging
5) Examples
6) Creating a Blog
What is a Blog?• A type of website with regular entries of
commentary, descriptions of events etc.
• Rose in popularity in the early 2000s. Most personal blogs are never read by anyone!
• Can include multimedia such as video (vlogs), pictures, links, art and audio (podcasting).
• Over the last few year ‘microblogging’ (websites such as Twitter’) have increased in popularity.
• Usually have the ability to leave comments and / or responses.
To Blog or Not to Blog?• Helps to motivate reluctant readers / writers and
those who don’t contribute during class time.• Creates instant home – school links.• Record of teaching and learning.• Opportunity to use a Web 2.0 tool and integrate
ICT into classroom practice.• Makes the children members of a global
learning community.• Difficult to set up, maintain, and time consuming• Security and safety of children
Blogging and Inquiry Learning• Share their prior knowledge and experiences.
• Put up their key questions.
Blogging and Inquiry Learning
• Share resources with those who have similar questions.
• Work with group members to collaborate and use information that they have found.
• Could use as a possible presentation tool.
• Reflection and evaluation of their work.
• Parents can see what is happening in the class and contribute to their child’s learning.
Assessment and the Key Competencies
• Thinking: Children reflect on their own learning, make sense of information and ideas, and challenge assumptions and perceptions.
• ULSaT: They confidently use ICT to provide information and communicate with others.
• Managing Self: They manage projects and know how to act independently.
• Relating to Others: Interact with a range of people in a variety of contexts.
• Participating & Contributing: Be actively involved in communities.
Reflective BloggingFor Educators
• Good form of Professional Development review and record keeping.
• Useful for management to understand teachers experiences
For Students
• Helps children to clarify understandings and talk about their learning.
• Can demonstrate a child’s emotional maturity.
• A journal that can’t be read by a snooping sibling or parent.
Reflective Blogging
“WELL, YES, WE COULD READ YOUR BLOG… OR YOU COULD JUST TELL US
ABOUT YOU SCHOOL DAY.”
Creating a Blog and Where to Start?
• Use free blogging host sites. www.21classes.com (Education Based)http://edublogs.org (Education Based)www.blogger.com All you need is an email address.
• Have a goal about what you want to achieve from it. How big? Security? Access? Purpose?
• Let the families know and get them on board.• Most importantly let the kids take ownership.• Don’t let it take too much time.
Some Exampleshttp://holycrossinquiry.21classes.com
http://www.marshall.school.nz/