Writing 2.0 : Blogging for an Audience Aman Dhanda

Technology Today  How do your students use technology in their daily lives. At home and/or school Common Theme  COMMUNICATION/AUDIENCE!

Big Question  Why not incorporate this appeal of both technology and audience into writing in the classroom?

Rational  Providing an immediate audience for student work, through blogging, can provide even the most reluctant writers with enjoyment and motivation in writing.

What in the world is a  A weblog, or blog, is a webpage that can be created and easily updated by adding “posts”, or entries.  Each new post has a date stamp.  Each post has a “comment” section where visitors may leave comments for the author.  Example:

What are the benefits of blogging?  Motivation in seeing words published  An innovative way for students to engage in reflective writing  Students write more credibly, accurately, and carefully for an audience other than their teacher  Allow others to respond and provide feedback

Edublogs  Free Created for educators Not password protected (yet) (this site has more privacy settings than Edublogs) Example:

Other Examples  5 th Grade ELD:  Kinder:  Junior High:  High School:  College:  Many, many, many more:

Student Work  Stephen- Below Basic  Lupita- Basic  Alex- Proficient  Selena- Proficient  Ovie- Advanced

Blog Comments  Indicate an understanding of key ideas  Provide a quality critique  Share a similar learning or action  Extend a student’s own understanding and learning.

How do you teach students to make meaningful comments?  Teachers could help early bloggers use sentence starters to comment on their classmates’ posts.  Having students use sentence starters to comment helps them to avoid words like nice and good in their comments.

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Comment Sentence Starters To better understand One point that was not clear to me was … Are you saying that … Can you please clarify? I wonder why……. I wish I understood why……. I don’t understand……. I found myself wondering……. To disagree I see your point, but what about … Another way of looking at it is … I'm still not convinced that … To challenge How did you reach your conclusion? What makes you think that? How does it explain …

Comment Sentence Starters To provide positive feedback One strength is … Your idea is good because... Your writing made me form an opinion about……. This made me think about……. This post is relevant because……. I was reminded that……. I can relate to this……. This makes me think of……. I discovered……. Your writing made me think that we should……. This is important because……. To provide constructive feedback The argument would be stronger if … Another way to do it would be … What if you said it like this … Another thing to consider is…….

Assessment  Rubric that outlines the key criteria for determining a student's grade, including use of: evidence engagement with the text whether or not a student responded thoughtfully.  Writing in a Wired World: Improving Student Writing Using a Computer, Stephen Valentine and Gray Smith forthcoming from Teacher Created Materials

Example Blog Rubric OUTCOME ASSESSED BeginningDevelopingProficientStrong 1234 Overall Use of BlogsBlog entries are few and generally simple retellings of personal events. No comments are made on blogs of others. Almost all required blog entries and comments have been completed. Five blog entries and five comments are submitted, though not all of them may give evidence of a substantial contribution. Five blog entries and five comments are submitted, all of which are substantial. Beyond the required five, your blog includes many more reflections. Intellectual Engagement with Key Concepts Blog entries make no reference to issues raised through readings and/or class activities Blog entries make some reference to issues raised through readings and/or class activities Blog entries demonstrate awareness of most of the key issues raised through readings and/or class activities Blog entries demonstrate engagement with the important issues raised through readings and/or class activities Personal Response to Key Concepts Blog entries show no personal response is made to the issues/concepts raised in the readings/activities Blog entries convey little evidence of a personal response to the issues/concepts raised in the readings/activities Blog entries convey evidence of a personal response to the issues raised in the readings/ activities, and demonstrate that the author is capable of reflecting on learning, technology, and society. Blog entries convey extensive evidence of a personal response to the issues raised in the readings/ activities, and demonstrate the author's growth through reflection on learning, technology and society. Engaged WritingBlog entries use incorrect grammar and syntax consistently, making it difficult for others to follow. No links are included connecting your thoughts to those of others. Blog entries demonstrate some evidence of correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Audience will have little trouble reading your blog. An occasional link is included. Blog entries show a good command of Standard English. No problems for your audience. Most blog entries include links. Blog entries show a very good command of Standard English and have some flair and originality. Blog entries may contain multiple links.

In Conclusion…  “I understood immediately the thrill of seeing oneself in print. It provides some sort of primal verification: you are in print; therefore you exist…Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without actually having to actually show up somewhere. While others who have something to say or who want to be effectual, like musicians or baseball players or politicians, have to get out there in front of people, writers, who tend to be shy, get to stay home and still be public. There are many obvious advantages to this. You don’t have to dress up, for instance, and you can’t hear them boo you right away.”  -Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird