Blogging in the classroom

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Blogging in the classroom

• Nicole Giambra

http//www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/ngiambra/te
achertools.cfm
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What are Blogs?

• Blog/WebLog a web page containing brief,
  chronologically arranged items of information. A
  blog can take the form of a diary, journal,
  what's new page, or links to other web sites.
• Where can you find them?
• Most websites now have technology that allows
  users to comment on current news on the web site
• Entertainment, news, hobbies, medical sites

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How do they generally work?

• Someone posts thoughts or questions on a
  particular topic and other people reply. Replies
  are many times called posted comments
• Blogger someone who reads and posts to blogs
• Why use Blogs or blogging software?
• Encourage the quieter student to participate
• Grading can be done online
• Most students have used blogs already (live
  journal and others) and are comfortable using the
  software
• Comments can be anonymous
• Most blog applications are free
• Teacher can create a quick web page

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What are some ways to use them in class?

• Post a  sponge topic and have students ask
  questions
• Use for a role play situation
• Use for closure questions, what new topic did
  you learn today?
• Have a  current event discussion (analyzing and
  predicting)
• Treat the blog like an electronic worksheet that
  everyone can read
• Brainstorm ideas for projects

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Uses Continued..

• Look for blogs on websites related to your
  curriculum, Reading Other Blogs and comment
• Post a web quest
• Have students post related question to a given
  assignment up to the project blog and have
  students answer back
• Public journals
• Easier to grade online
• Students of any age can create their own web
  bulletin to showcase to parents

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Issues with Blogs

• School blog liability
• Lesson using a blog must be well planned
• Students must be briefed on the issue of posting
  personal and/or libelous information
• Silly students compromise the activity
• Deleting comments
• Teachers must moderate comments

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What are other school uses for blogs?

• AHS Daily Announcements
• Meeting Minutes
• Quick class web page
• Other blog sites and tools
• http//www3.essdack.org/socialstudies/blogs.htm

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Blogger.com

• First post a comment to my blog
• http//learningwithblogs.blogspot.com/
• Click where it says 0 comments
• Click either anonymous or other
• If you clicked other put a name in the box
• Type the word verification in the field
• Click Publish your comment

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Lets create a blog for your class

• Create an account
• www.blogger.com
• Click create your own blog now
• Follow step by step instructions

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Academic Resources and Links

• http//www.intellagirl.com/Bloghandout.pdf.
• The Basics Blogs uses for Blogs
• http//www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_6/huffake
  r/index.htmlh5The Educated Blogger
• http//www.pembinatrails.ca/program/technology/us
  es_of_blogs_in_education.htmUses of blogs in
  Education