Sharing Thoughts & Ideas Through Writing with a Blog Kristi Hingerty Computer Resource Specialist Birdneck Elementary

What is a Blog Anyway? Let’s give it a try! Make sure the compute is logged in as ebicr01 Open the shortcuts folder Open the shortcut titled “Transforming Teaching & Learning with Technology”

What is a Blog Anyway? Blogging in Plain English Web + logging = Blogging Diary/Journal Collaborative space News outlet Website where you can write about anything

Why Blog? Ideas can be published and shared with anyone anywhere Facilitates asynchronous communication Writing across the curriculum improves students’ literacy skills and helps develop a deeper understanding of the content Increases the authenticity of the writing process

When Would Students Blog? Language Arts ◦ Nearing the final draft of a writing assignment ◦ Book review about books they’ve read

When Would Students Blog? Math ◦ Writing about what they are learning ◦ Problem solving blog

When Would Students Blog? Science ◦ Apply classroom learning to real world context

When Would Students Blog? Social Studies ◦ Newsletter from long ago

Implementation Strategies Content and Purpose ◦ Writing prompt that requires higher level thinking from students ◦ Purpose: process writing, writing for an authentic audience or web-based conversation with a blog ◦ Students must know the purpose and objectives

Implementation Strategies Audience ◦ Could include  parents,  other students in the school,  students at other schools  Another audience

Implementation Strategies Comments ◦ Two-way communication between blog author and reader ◦ “Netiquette” ◦ Be respectful ◦ Spam-use privacy settings and comment moderation

How do I Start Blogging? “Creating an Edublogs Blog” handout ◦ Create a blog and add a post ◦ Visit a neighbor’s blog and leave a comment ◦ Manage your blog from the Dashboard For more resources, check out crsblog.wikispaces.com

Wrapping Up Blogging opens doors for students to share ideas and thoughts with anyone anywhere Blogging authenticates writing and facilitates communication Blogging encourages students to write across the curriculum Blogging provides teachers with a quick and easy communication tool for parents

Wrapping Up If you have questions or would like to share your blog activity, please me at Course evaluation Thank you for coming!