Blogging in the Classroom Prepared By: Celine Francisco

Learning Objectives To relate blogging with classroom instruction, administration and management To set up a blog for teaching purposes and optimize it for better instruction and students’ learning To determine the educational benefits of blogs, blogging models and special considerations for blogging

Learning Objectives To create a blog post on a given topic, following the best practices presented To develop a blogging rubrics and blogging plan

Blogging Basics Blog Website with regular entries (posts) on a topic or range of topics Like personal journals or diaries; others with a professional focus

Blogging Basics Posts opinions, links, observations, commentary, reflections, discoveries, tips, announcements, advice, or anything else of interest Automatically dated, archived, in reverse chronological order Rich Media - images, video, photos, audio, and graphics

Blogging Basics Blog Writing Standard English Avoid formal, academic English and ‘text speak’ Tags Used to identify each post with multiple keywords For easy searching and retrieving content

Setting up a Blog Choose a blogging service. Examples: Blogger.com Tumblr.com WordPress.com

Setting up a Blog 2. Create an account. 3. Play around a little. Check the dashboard and the ‘front page’. 4. Design your blog using free themes.

Essential Widgets Tag cloud Archive Search box Pages (if using static pages) Links

Educational Benefits of Blogs Pedagogy Blogs: excellent for soliciting critique and reflection from students  Students build their understanding of a topic  Blogs are excellent for constructivist pedagogies.

Educational Benefits of Blogs Pedagogy Track the development of a student’s thinking over time Identify struggling or disengaged students Encourages students to evaluate ideas, advance positions, and to explore diverse perspectives

Educational Benefits of Blogs Pedagogy Higher Order Thinking Skills: assessment, interpretation, validation, analysis, critique, synthesis, evaluation, creativity, and imagination

Audience, Writing and Community Awareness Writing for a public audience Making informed decisions on: Writing (tone, style, length of post, readability) Content (appropriateness, relevance, interest factor, accuracy of data or reasonableness of arguments, effective communication of ideas) Presentation (organization, appearance, use of rich media, relevance of media, post frequency, correct grammar and punctuation)

Creativity and Flow To express oneself creatively and intellectually Expose the development of their thinking Go off on the occasional tangent Take initiative in communicating new thoughts and discoveries Certain level of ‘flow’ can be reached

Blog Ideas Blog questions or problems Class blog for students to share their discoveries or opinions on a topic Class management tool to post announcements, assignment information, feedback, tips Comment on other students’ posts Students keep their own blog on a class topic

Individual Responsibility Students take responsibility for their blog. Publish regularly with engaging, insightful, and useful material.

Administration Classroom management or administration tool Central repository for all class-related information and news Providing general advice, tips and feedback to the class as a whole Contains details, syllabus or curriculum information, assignment details, etc.

Blogging Models Administration Blog Learning management system Only the teacher writes blog posts Class Blog Learning-focused All students are authors

Blogging Models Write posts on topics you set (relevant to the class as a whole) Teacher takes the lead on posting Students are encouraged to come up with their own posts

Blogging Models Individual Student Blogs Learning-focused Each student has their own blog Gives students control and ownership over their blogging environment Can be used as a lifelong eportfolio

Special Considerations for Blogging Choosing a blogging service Public or private blog? Navigation (making your way around the website) Static pages Blogging model

9 Content Rules (Handley & Chapman, 2011) 1. Define your purpose. 2. Size matters. 3. Write killer headlines. 4. Design with flair. 5. Create momentum. Add calls to action. 6. Moderate comments. 7. Categorize and tag everything. 8. Write the way you speak. 9. Don’t overthink.

Scaffolding Student Blogging The “why?” What a blog is Types of posts/comments Encourage critiquing and reflection What makes a good blog post? Choose a catchy title Add rich media Blogging – own genre of writing Express opinion Put some ‘personality’ into their writing

Scaffolding Student Blogging Importance of audience Think carefully about tags and categories Give suggestions Careful with comments How you will assess students’ work Model good blogging Provide examples Ask students to review and comment on each other’s blogs

How Much Do You Assess? Setting an upper limit to the number of posts or comments students can make Asking students to submit their ‘best five’ posts or comments State minimum expectations for the length of a post or comment

Blog Rubrics Content Comprehension Development of ideas Intellectual engagement with subject matter Critique and analysis of key topics Reflection on core themes Demonstration of creative thinking or approaches Accuracy of data or information presented

Blog Rubrics Communication and Posts Writing / communication quality Relevance of links/embedded media Post frequency Encouragement of community contributions

Blog Rubrics Management and administration of blog Navigability of blog Design and administration Organization (use of tags, archives, categories, feeds) Appearance Use of enhancements (esp. if using widgets)

References http://usingsocialmediaintheclassroom.wikispaces.com/ Poore, M. (2012). Using Social Media in the Classroom: A Best Practice Guide. SAGE Publications Ltd.: London.