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Blogs in the Classroom

Weblogs, or blogs for short, can be best described as a online journal yet has evolved the more it is used in education. Ann Davis (2004) describes weblogs as "spaces on the web where you can write and publish (post) about a topic or several topics. Unlike traditional websites, they provide instant, type-n-click publishing that can be done anywhere, anytime and from any browser."

A person who writes a blog is called a “blogger” and the act of writing a blog is called “blogging.”

Bloggers do not need to know html or web design to create their own blogs. There are several web-based tools that allow anyone to publish to the web instantly.

What are weblogs?

The following ideas for how to use weblogs in the classroom were taken from Jim Wenzloff 's handout.

Instruction/Lessons

Post student writing and request feedback or students post their own writing like What's up with Lisa's Class and Mrs. Parker Soul Soup.
Post prompts for writing as Gabrielle does in her class blog Exploring Language - ASL and English (be sure to check out the student blogs in the menu on the right.)
Post digital artwork using the photo gallery feature as in Kendall's Wildcat Gallery.
Document the work created by students in class as in Sgt. Earl (Jay) Beatty Blog.
Create a vlog (video blog) that primarily uses video instead of text to document experiences on field trips or in the classroom. See Team 6-7-8 Vlog.
Use the feedback feature to have students post to a prompt as this elementary teacher does in Blog Away on a Papeless Journal .
Post assignments based on literature readings and have students respond using the comment feature.
Gather and organize Internet resources for a specific course, providing links to appropriate sites and annotating the links as to what is relevant about them.
For projects or written reports post the steps and process that students should follow. (This would be helpful for parents also.) Check out this online collaboration project, Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Student created online book reviews
Find a teacher partner and have the classes do peer review of their writing.
Student written news articles - create a news category or new school news blog. Check out the daily reports in a fifth grade blog, Super Students Blog.
Create a literature circle.
Provide online readings for your students to read and react such as the Literacy Blog.
Use the feedback feature have students post their reflections on what holidays mean to them.
Post a photograph and have students share their reactions.
Post your on-line lesson or WebQuest Logan High School Computer Art Blog
Create a record of when assignments are due for later reference.
Model writing for your students.

Professional

Reflect on your teaching experiences as this first year high school Hipteacher.
Brainstorm and discuss teaching ideas like Bud the Teacher.
Use blogs as portfolios or as an archived discussion of their practice, both formal and informal.
Keep a log of teacher-training experiences.
Post your notes from workshops you attend.
Describe a lesson that worked for you.
Document the collaboration of group of teachers and staff as in Student Technology Procedures Committee.

Parents/Productivity

Post homework English IV: British Lit Weblog
Parents can have access to events and projects in your classroom, for example, Pre-Calc 40S and Mrs. Greenwald's First Grade Blog
Post information about school events, announcements, etc like the Wildcat Weekly.
Provide tips for parents on how they can help their son/daughter do better in school. Team 1/2/3 Blog
Publish an on-line class newsletter Mr. Wright's Class
Reflect on educational programming as in KDES Principal's Blog .

Make your own blog

Resources:

Free Blog Tools

Blogger http://www.blogger.com/

Edublogs http://edublogs.org/

bloglines is an RSS feed aggregator, a great way to keep track of all those blogs http://www.bloglines.com/

A list of b log services from Blogs4Teachers

Don't know what to write about?

Blogideas http://www.blogideas.com/

CanTeach http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/prompts.html

Writers Digest http://www.writersdigest.com/writingprompts.asp

Education Blogs

Blogs4Teachers

Edblogger Praxis

EduBlog Insights

Educational Bloggers Network

Weblogs: The Possibilities are Limitless!

Schoolblog

Weblogg-ED

Literature

Blood, R. 2002. The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog . Cambridge , Mass. : Perseus Publishing

Bull, Glen, Gina Bull, and Sara Kajder. “Writing with Weblogs: Reinventing Student Journals.” Learning and Leading with Technology 31.1 (2003):32-35.

Campbell, Aaron P. “Weblogs for Use with ESL Classes.” The Internet TESL Journal . 9.2 (2003).
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Campbell-Weblogs.html

Carlson, Gigi. “Weblogs, Chatrooms, and Movies.” Technology and Learning . 24 Nov. 2003.
http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=16101301

Downes, Stephen. "Educational Blogging." Educause Review. September/October 2004.
http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0450.asp

Fertig, Richard E. and Kaye D. Trammel. “Content Delivery in the Blogosphere.” THE Journal 31.7 (2004): 12-20.
http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/A4677A.cfm?kw=&gw

Holzberg, Carol. “Education Web Logs.” Technology and Learning . 24.1 (2003): 52.
http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=12803462

Jackson, Lorrie. “Blogging Basics: Creating Student Journals on the Web.” Education World . < http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial037print.shtml >

Kadjer, Sara and Glen Bull. “Scaffolding for Struggling Students: Reading and Writing with Blogs.” Learning and Leading with Technology 31.2 (2003):32-35.

Kennedy, Kristen. “Writing with Web Logs.” Technology and Learning . 23.7 (2003):11-14.
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2003/02/blogs.html

Long, Phillip D. “Blogs: A Disruptive Technology Coming of Age?” Syllabus . Oct. (2002).
http://www.syllabus.com/article.asp?id=6774

Roberts, Sarah. “Campus Communications and the Wisdom of Blogging.” Syllabus . 19 April 2004 .
http://www.syllabus.com/article.asp?id=798

Stach, Michael. “Introduction to Blogs and Blogging.” Technology and Learning . 1 Apr. 2004 . http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18400984 .

Toner, Mark. “Blogs Help Educators Share Ideas, Air Frustrations.” Education Week . 14 Jan. 2004 . http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=18Blogs.h23&keywords=blogs

Winer, Dave. “What Makes a Weblog a Weblog?” Weblogs at Harvard Law. 23 May 2003.
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/whatMakesAWeblogAWeblog


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