1. Beyond (the) Blackboard: Blogging as a Course Management System in the Foreign Language Classroom Daniel R. Walker daniel.walker@colorado.edu University of Colorado at Boulder Conference of the South Central Association for Language Learning Technology 16 February 2008

2. Advantages of Traditional Course Management Systems Organization Standardization Instructor familiarity Student familiarity Tools Use of templates Support

3. Disadvantages of Traditional Course Management Systems Interface Forces one to think in modules Hierarchical menu structure Compatibility issues Students often dislike them

4. The Decision to Use Blogger Cost Compatibility Ease of Use Customization Appearance Relationship with Google “family” Google Calendar Google Reader YouTube FeedBurner

5. Two Approaches to Using Blogs Top-down blog Information primarily goes from instructor to class Internet & Society Course (Northwestern U) Internet & Society Course (Northwestern U) Bottom-up blog Information primarily goes from class to instructor Info 204: Networks (Cornell U)

6. U of Colorado: Spanish 2120 Fourth-semester course Eight-week summer class Seventeen students Hybrid approach Fixed elements / right-hand side Changing elements / left-hand side

7. Fixed Elements: The Basics Feedburner / RSS Personal information Email address Office hours

8. Fixed Elements: News Authentic texts in the target language Access to current events Instructor controlled through Google Reader Material used as content for extra-credit questions on quizzes

9. Fixed Elements: Administration Easy access Administrative documents Essential webpages Use of PDF documents Integration with Webfiles

10. Changing Elements: Informational Posts Offer more information about material seen in class—all in the target language Offer students links in order to stimulate further exploration

11. Changing Elements: News Posts

12. Changing Elements: Course Schedule Posts

13. Changing Elements: Hybrid Posts

14. Changing Elements: Organization Labels Created by poster Posts may have multiple labels Allow students to easily locate posts Archives Organized automatically by Blogger Arranged by date

15. Blogmentarios: Writing, Brainstorming, and Discussion

16. Student Reaction

17. Links Class Blog: Spanish 2120 (Summer 2007) http://span2120.blogspot.com/ Blog Project Overview (“Language and Technology”) https://webfiles.colorado.edu/walkerdr/www Blogs as Course Management Systems (Google Notebook) http://www.google.com/notebook/public/07209419 910697440508/BDRCcIwoQ762Vo-gi http://www.google.com/notebook/public/07209419 910697440508/BDRCcIwoQ762Vo-gi