Weblogs in Education

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Weblogs in Education

• NCCE, April, 2004
• Steven Burtsburt_at_clarity-innovations.comhttp//
  sburt.teacherhosting.com
• Clarity Innovations, Inc.

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Who is Clarity? What do we do?

• Clarity Innovations is a group of professionals
  with extensive experience in both education and
  technology.
• We draw from a national network of education
  content writers, policy specialists, developers,
  and researchers.
• We provide corporations, foundations,
  professional organizations and educational
  institutions expertise and credibility to define
  vision, develop strategy, create instructional
  resources, and apply emerging technologies
  effectively.

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Agenda

• Introductions 15 min
• Goals 10 min
• Defining Weblogs 15 min
• Surveying the blogosphere 45 min
• Break
• Blogs in Education 45 min
• Setting up your own 30 min
• Closing 15 min

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Goals

• Introduce and understand Weblogs
• Begin planning and setting up your own Weblog
  http//blogs.edweblogs.org
• What do you want to get out of this session?

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What is a Weblog?

• In simple terms, the are easily created, easily
  update-able Web sites that allow authors to
  publish instantly to the Internet from any
  Internet connection.
• - Rebecca Blood, The Weblog Handbook

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What is a blog, cont

• A blog is a Web page made up of usually short,
  frequently updated posts that are arranged
  chronologically like a whats new page or a
  journal. Blog posts are like instant messages to
  the Web.
• - Evan Williams, founder of Blogger

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What can YOU do with a Weblog?

• Content Management System - Workshops
• Class, School or District Web page Lewis
  Elementary
• Literary Magazine - FanFiction
• Portal to Student Portfolios - Bees
• Discussion Group - Feedback
• Reflective writing and sharing - Journalism

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Characteristics of a Blog

• Usually maintained by one person
• Written in a conversational manner
• Updated frequently (often a daily basis)
• Provides context by linking to other sites on the
  Internet

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Weblogs or Web pages?

• Easier to use no need to code pages, save files
  to servers, etc.
• Low cost many services are free
• Instant publication updates can occur at any
  time
• Audience of millions see Technorati
• Accessible and update-able from any Internet
  connection
• Potential for very wide-spread collaboration
• Really easy to use, really

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Weblogs can

• Filter Information develop an avenue for what
  interests you
• Provide Context easy use of hypertext
• Promote Media Literacy
• Provide Alternate Points of View

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Types of Weblogs

• Basic Tim Lauer
• Group Howard Dean
• Family and Friends - example
• Collaborative NECC blog
• Photo audio and video Buzznet, Lifeblog
• Community Slashdot
• Business - Macromedia
• Knowledge - scripts

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Basic Weblog Tools

• Blogger free blogging tool owned by Google
• MoveableType free for non-commercial use a
  server application
• TeacherHosting.com - 5/month service uses MT

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Weblogs in Education

• How can technologies like weblogs impact
  education?
• What can you do with them?
• How are they limited?
• What is the cost?

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Potential use in Education

• Student Portfolios learning logs
• Space for reflection, feedback, collaboration,
  easy storage
• Professional Development
• Peer coaching and mentoring
• Classroom Management
• Portal for posting notes, assignments, mentoring
  from outside of school walls

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Potentials II

• Community Relations
• Easy way for parents to enter discussion
• Classroom Collaboration
• Include other listeners and other voices
• Internal/External Communications
• Space for all types of groups to share information

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Potentials III

• Knowledge Management
• Online reference desk for policies, handbooks and
  other information
• Research Log
• Links to other sources and media
• Best Practices
• Share success and goals

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Example Edu-Bloggers

• Anne Davis University Level
• Ben Harris Learning Blogs
• Tom Hoffman software in Education
• Tim Lauer Elementary Principal
• Hector Vila K-5 Media studies
• Beth Fullerton HS English w/student blogs

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Classroom Considerations

• Access and Security
• Can be restricted at many levels
• Intranets, passwords, ban IP, no comment
• Cost
• Can be free or fee
• Ability to Use
• Requires connectivity and browser use

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Connecting with Communities

• RSS Real Simple Syndication
• Wiki-Wiki Hawaiian word for easy see an
  example
• Managing favorites del.icio.us

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Resources

• TeacherHosting.comBlogging packages begin at
  5/month
• MoveableType.orgFree download of server-side
  software
• Presentation SlidesAvailable at
  http//sburt.teacherhosting.com

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Other Educational Blogs

• Lewis Elementary
• Buckman Elementary School
• Weblogg-ed and companion Bloglines
• Edublogger Network
• Brooklyn Joe
• and many, many more