Created by Kristine Woods, Teasley Middle SchoolModified by Buffy Hamilton, Creekview High School

Web + Log=BlogEasy web-site creation – no HTML

neededOnline journal Reflective commentsReader commentsClosed or open to allLeads to community of bloggers

Blogs are organic and comprised of reflections/conversations

Not built upon static chunksBlogs have opened up the

“Read/Write” frontier on the world wide web. Users are creating and contributing to content.

Blogs are highly motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms.

Blogs provide excellent opportunities for students to read and write.

Blogs are effective forums for collaboration and discussion.

Blogs are powerful tools to enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur.

Source: Glencoe

Constructivist tool for learning.Learning is expanded beyond the

four walls of the school.They can serve as an “archive” or

collection of learning artifacts.

Allows students to have a voice, especially those who may be reluctant to speak out in class.

Content knowledge can be enhanced and cultivated through blogging.

Blogging can help teach students research and organizational skills as well as synthesis of ideas.

Classroom Management and Communication/Instructional ResourceClass blogs can serve as a portal to foster a community of learners. As they are easy to create and update efficiently, they can be used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts, notices, and homework assignments, or act as a question and answer board.

CollaborationBlogs provide a space where teachers and students can work to further develop writing or other skills with the advantage of an instant audience. Teachers can offer instructional tips, and students can practice and benefit from peer review. Students can also participate in cooperative learning activities that require them to relay research findings, ideas, or suggestions. Source: Glencoe

DiscussionsA class blog opens the opportunity for students to discuss topics outside of the classroom. With a blog, every person has an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions. Students have time to be reactive to one another and reflective.

Student Portfolios/Showcase for Student WorkBlogs present, organize, and protect student work as digital portfolios. As older entries are archived, developing skills and progress may be analyzed more conveniently. Additionally, as students realize their efforts will be published, they are typically more motivated to produce better writing.

Source: Glencoe

Determine that all students' AUPs are in place and up to date.

Inform parents of procedures and secure parental permission.

Teach students safe, acceptable, and sensible behavior as online authors and readers.

Review policies and guidelines pertaining to student access.

Teach the non-posting rules of no complete names, e-mail accounts, or references to reveal location.

Set clear expectations regarding tone, respect, and consequences.

Source: Glencoe

http://www.wordpress.comFree hostingYou can control the amount of

access students and the general public has to your blog.

Kid friendly!Easy to learn and use.

Enter posts with Wordpress Write posts in Word 2007 and publish Content becomes available online Visitors read postings Visitors submit comments Search blog by date or keyword Allow RSS subscriptions Linking, comments, feedback

Possibly biasedPossibly inaccurate informationOnline soapbox Intellectual property adherence

Reflections on classesCurrent eventsDisseminate student created contentContact with parentsAssignmentsLesson notesRSS feedsHigh level of autonomy and student

interactionPeer-to-peer knowledge sharing and

generation

7 things you should know about...blogs. (2005, August). Retrieved August 22, 2007, from Educause Learning Initiative: http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7006.pdf

Glencoe. “Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom.” Teaching Today, Glencoe Online. Oct. 2006. 25 July 2007 <http://www.glencoe.com/ sec/ teachingtoday/ educationupclose.phtml/ 47>.