Writing in Blogs: Developing Your Students’ Digital Fluency while strengthening traditional literacy skills

What’s a blog? Part web site Part web site Part journal Part journal Part free-form writing spaces that have the potential to enhance writing and literary skills while offering a uniquely stylized form of expression Part free-form writing spaces that have the potential to enhance writing and literary skills while offering a uniquely stylized form of expression An effective medium for many educators who lack strong computer skills An effective medium for many educators who lack strong computer skills A blog is about creating a conversation A blog is about creating a conversation

What’s a blog? A Blog is a web site that often provides commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A Blog is a web site that often provides commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A Blog is a web site that allows an author to publish instantly from any Internet connection. A blog can be interactive, allowing teachers and students to begin conversations or add information published there. A Blog is a web site that allows an author to publish instantly from any Internet connection. A blog can be interactive, allowing teachers and students to begin conversations or add information published there.

Distinct Attributes: Only the creator of a blog (or those the creator allows) can create a new topic called making a post, for a discussion. Only the creator of a blog (or those the creator allows) can create a new topic called making a post, for a discussion. Unlike , blogs are sites where authors post in reverse chronological order. Unlike , blogs are sites where authors post in reverse chronological order. Functions as an online newsletter, commentary, and/or resources ~ links to other sites. Functions as an online newsletter, commentary, and/or resources ~ links to other sites.

Terms: The term blog comes from the word weblog. The term blog comes from the word weblog. Post/posting~ individual articles that make up a blog Post/posting~ individual articles that make up a blog Archives~ a collection of all your posts on one page Archives~ a collection of all your posts on one page Comments~ enabling readers to leave their remarks Comments~ enabling readers to leave their remarks Blogging~ the act of posting on blogs Blogger~ a person who blogs Blogosphere ~ all blogs, or the blogging community. Also called blogistan or just blogspace.

What Blogs are Not A place to just turn in papers A place to just turn in papers A replacement for a message board A replacement for a message board Something that will sit there and run itself Something that will sit there and run itself Benign, boring document without hyperlinks or references Benign, boring document without hyperlinks or references A place to write in 3 rd person A place to write in 3 rd person

What Blogs ARE A place to share your reflections about your passion A place to share your reflections about your passion Part of a conversation Part of a conversation A tool to extend class conversation outside the classroom A tool to extend class conversation outside the classroom A place to site your opinions A place to site your opinions A place where decision makers are looking to spot trends and opinions A place to promote yourself and your opinions A place to overcome geographic or professional isolation A place to vent

Why Students Should Blog Blogs are easy to create Blogs are easy to create Many blogs are free Many blogs are free Students can publish Students can publish Blogs can syndicate ~ make the blog available to Internet users who subscribe to their blog Blogs can syndicate ~ make the blog available to Internet users who subscribe to their blog

Positive Influences in the Classroom~ Blogs are flexible, lots of uses. Blogs are flexible, lots of uses. Blogs encourage class participation and discussion. Blogs encourage class participation and discussion. Easy way to practice writing and improve writing skills. Easy way to practice writing and improve writing skills. Blogs give students a feeling of ownership. Blogs give students a feeling of ownership.

Why Students May Not Want to Blog in Your Class~ It takes time to keep a blog updated. It takes time to keep a blog updated. No confidentiality. No confidentiality. It is difficult to keep them blogging about class subjects. It is difficult to keep them blogging about class subjects. Having other people read their words may seem scary to some students. Having other people read their words may seem scary to some students.

Preparing our students to be users of technology… While we continue to do a good job at teaching our students how to consume content (read), we must also be teaching them how to produce valuable information products (write, draw, compose, make movies, etc.) Blogging is a viable and accessible opportunity for all of us.

Samples of Blogs Reading & Writing in the Classroom  Communication in an alternative High School: Educational blogs:  

Blog Search Engines~ Feedster ~ Feedster ~ Blog Search ~ Blog Search ~ Google Blog Search ~ Google Blog Search ~ Bloogz ~ Bloogz ~ Blogdigger ~ Blogdigger ~ BlogPulse ~ BlogPulse ~ Bloglines ~ Bloglines ~ Technorati ~ Technorati ~

Guide for Educational Bloggers Avoid using real names or whole names. Avoid using real names or whole names. Think before you type. Think before you type. Avoid violation of US Copyright law Avoid violation of US Copyright law Avoid use of School or District Identifiers Avoid use of School or District Identifiers Avoid posting students’ work without obtaining permission Avoid posting students’ work without obtaining permission Avoid using your school as your contact on your blog Avoid using your school as your contact on your blog Read the Olympia Internet Use Policy Read the Olympia Internet Use Policy

Blog Resources: “Easy steps to creating a blog” ~ “Easy steps to creating a blog” ~ Wikipedia ~ blog article ~ Wikipedia ~ blog article ~ Technoriati.com Technoriati.com

Where can I start a free blog? Blogger ( Blogger ( Blog-City ( Blog-City ( Pitas.com ( Pitas.com ( Currently Blogger.com is the only one cleared through the tech department ~ not blocked.

Questions? Any questions before we proceed to the blog set-up stage of the presentation?