Blogs, Micro-Blogs & Websites in the WL Classroom

and other “back-channel” and assessment fun

Catherine RitzNovember 2011

First, let’s assess…

• m.socrative.com• If you have a smartphone, please go to:– m.socrative.com and join my room (8323)

• Students can also complete assessments from a computer.

Questions & Instant Feedback

• Wiffiti.com• Create a “Screen” where students can text

comments, questions, answers, or type them online– practice

• Can create a Screen with Twitter feeds for current events– #langchat & #flteach Screen

Why Twitter for Professional Development?

• Connections: create your own Personal Learning Network

• Collaboration: share resources and ideas with likeminded teachers

• Live chats• Research: search for resources you need• Impress your students!

– Use new sites and resources even they haven’t heard of!• “Twitter in 60 Seconds” (video)• Follow me: @ritzforeignlang

Twitter Resources

• LiveBinder: “An Educator’s Guide to Twitter”– http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=34291

• TagDef: http://tagdef.com/– Look up a definition for any hashtag– My favorite: #ff (FollowFriday!)

Twitter with Students• My rule: one tweet per day!• Need to set Twitter to

“Protect my Tweets”• Parent concerns• @ritzyfrancais• Use TweetDeck.com to log

in to multiple accounts (requires download to your computer)

More “backchannel” resources

• TodaysMeet.com– Chat room, can do from Smart

phone or computer– practice room

• Chatzy.com– Chat room, can set password– practice room

Blogs & Wikis

• Love the “embed code”!• Email embed code as homework, you insert

on Blog/Wiki • Student inserts embed code on a Blog/Wiki

Blogs• Blogger– French Class Blog– Spanish Class Blog

• Wordpress– French/Spanish Class Sample

• Why Blog?– Audience– Promotion

Wikis

• Wikispaces– Spanish Class Sample– French Class Sample

• PB Wiki– Spanish Class Sample

• Why Wiki?– Collaboration– Projects

Class Websites

• Can use a blog or wiki as your class site• Google Sites– My class page

• Engrade.com – free online grading site, homework posting, etc.

Practice

• Pick as many resources as you have time to practice with.

• Be ready to share feedback with the rest of the group.

Additional Resources

• catherineritz.org– Check “Resources: Tech Sites”– Check out my professional blog:

ritzylanguage.blogspot.com