1. Blogging as a Response to Reading
Sarah Scholl
Professional Development
January 25, 2011

2. This type of classroom is NOT for everyone!
Stand and deliver, question and answer, teacher as expert

3. “I sometimes marvel at how young people who are immersed in complex digital worlds tolerate our insistence on reading and writing linear texts devoid of hyperlinked multimodal content and opportunities for social networking” (Alverman, 2008, p.14).

4. Instructional Need
They deserve to be the expert on what they are reading. They want to be able to interact with each other as part of a classroom community and even as a part of a global community.
The instructional need: students don’t like completing the reading log that is required.
Common student complaint is that they do not get to talk to anyone about what they are reading and that is the best part of reading.
Teacher complaint is that students are not responding with higher level thinking, they are doing enough to get by, not concerned about the grade.

5. Technology Being Used

6. What makes Blogging the appropriate medium?
Provides students with an authentic audience that will interact with them!
Automatically creates a digital portfolio for student work so that they can track their progress.
Promotes higher level discussion of the literature that students are reading through commenting

7. Why Kidblog?

8. What exists currently Analysis
What exists currently is not motivating to students and does not provide them with the opportunity to interact with their peers about what they are reading.

9. Goals
Develop literacy and new literacies skills through reading, posting and commenting on a class blog
Increase student motivation
Have students take ownership of their work and interact positively with peers
Analysis

10. Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
Constructivism Multiple Intelligences Digital Divide
Design
Constructivism – students have the opportunity for a world wide audience, their work is more relevant and that is a motivating factor for students.
They are also developing their knowledge through their interactions with their peers in an independent setting where they are responsible for their responses and comments.
Multiple intelligences – Howard Gardner
Linguistic – written responses
Interpersonal – discussion
Digital Divide – option not to use this format, can use the library before school, use the public library, have a week to complete the assignment so hopefully can find time to actually complete it if they want to
UDL – can be used with Kurzweil, easy to navigate, allows students to type and save a draft to make changes, typing helps with motor skills and poor handwriting
How should content be organized?
How should ideas be presented to learners?
What delivery format should be used?
What types of activities and exercises will best help learners?
How should the course measure learners' accomplishments?

11. Parent Letter
Development

12. Blogging Terms and Conditions

13. Implementation

15. Introduce Model Practice Complete Assignment Formative Assessment
Implementation
Introduce
Model
Practice
Complete Assignment
Formative Assessment

16. Student Work

18. Evaluation Learner Evaluation Formative Summative
Weekly feed back on postings from peers and teachers
Digital Portfolio
Reflection on reading habits
Formative
Weekly review of student responses to guide higher level thinking and responding
Summative
Monthly reflection
End of the year reflection
Evaluation

19. Blogging Motivation Higher Level Thinking Interaction Reflection
In Summary
Blogging Motivation Higher Level Thinking Interaction Reflection