Blogs

 

Objective

Students will be able to create a blog, also known as a weblog or on-line journal, targeted to their classroom or school.

 

Objective

Students will be able to identify two safety tips, for privacy protection, when using a blog.   

 

Introduction

A blog, or weblog, is a chronological publication of personal thoughts about a specific topic. It is an on-line journal or communication tool. Weblogs encourage discussion, interaction and reflection.  They can be created individually or collaboratively.  Blogs take less time, technology and money than creating and maintaining a website.

 

Teachers can use blogs in their classrooms in a variety of ways. Some examples:

·      A class can follow the adventures of a class member who is traveling on a family trip.

·      Students learning American history can chronicle the timeline and accomplishments of famous explorers through journal entries. 

·      Music/theater teachers can set up a blog to communicate with parents and students about the progress of their upcoming musical productions. 

·      A media specialist can inform teachers and students about book recommendations and media center news.

·      Pre-service and new teachers can communicate and reflect upon their classroom experiences with their peers, supervisors and professors. 

Activity

 

Step One:  Become familiar with blogs.

 

Blogger Take the What is a Blog? tour.  Click the orange continue arrow at the bottom of each screen.    http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g

 

Weblogged Watch this 2 minute video clip on blogging in a school setting.   http://www.weblogg-ed.com/weblogs_in_ed_video

 

 

Step Two: Skim/read a few live educational blogs listed below or use Searchblogger (http://search.blogger.com/) to search for a specific blog topic: 

 

Classroom/school news blogs

3rd grade class blog Homework, star students, communication log, etc. http://www.butlerville.net/3a/

 

Lakeside Elementary blog  Bell schedule, staff, resources, student links, etc. http://www.lakesideusd.org/suburu/

 

Goochland High blog Newsletter, calendar,  athletics, etc. http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/gateway/go/ghs/index/

 

LHS Art Posted art projects http://www.lhsartpro.org/

 

Instructional blogs

1st grade class weblog Writing rules, show and tell, story discussion, etc. http://www.butlerville.net/1a/

 

Blog Away on a Paperless Journal Elementary journal on math, books, places and events http://runkles1.tblog.com/

 

Summer Reading Journal A teacher and students stays connected during the summer months with a reading journal.  http://mrsd.tblog.com/

 

HS Physics Discussion forum for current issues in Physics http://physicsns.blogspot.com/

 

 

Step Three:  Determine the focus and audience for your blog.  If you need some ideas for specific instructional or communication purposes to get you started, read: 

 

Blogs in the Classroom  Suggested instructional and professional focuses for blogs and links to some active blogs.   http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/TecEds/training/short-sessions/2004/blogs.htm

 

Blogs as Class Content http://www.bgsu.edu/cconline/barrios/blogs/read/index.html

 

 

Step Four:  Explore several of the following websites for blog templates and then choose one to create a blog.

 

Blogger General blogs; most popular; easy to use blog site; part of the Google family; three easy steps to create a blog. - create an account, name your blog and choose a template.  http://www.blogger.com/start

 

Edublogs Free blogs for teachers, supported by Chalkface http://edublogs.org/

 

Enewsblog Free general blogs; easy to follow instructions and helpful hints. http://www.enewsblog.com/

 

Xanga  Another free site;  great for online diaries and journals http://www.xanga.com/

Live Journal Parents must sign a permission form to allow children under 13 to create their own webblog. http://www.livejournal.com/

Blogmeister and Gaggle are educational blog sites for teachers and students.  Check to see if your school is a registered user.  If not consider signing up. The sites are completely kid safe- entries are screened before placed on line.    http://epnweb.org/blogmeister/index.php              http://gaggle.net

 

 

Step Five: Post blog content, at least 3 entries.

 

 

Step Six: Add photos or clip art. 

DK Clip Art  This site has realistic looking, general use clip art. Many are high quality, sharp image, photographs.  The choice screen has all of the easily accessible categories posted in the center of the screen. 

 

Google Images Type in a keyword and you will see thousands of image options- both clip art and photos.

 

Microsoft Office Clipart Type in a keyword or choose from the clip art of photo category.

 

 

Step Seven: Read about safety tips, when establishing and maintaining blogs, on the blog sites and or below.

 

How Can Children Stay Safe Using Blogs?  http://www.netalert.net.au/02582-How-can-children-stay-safe-using-blogs.asp

 

Assignment

 

 

 

 

 

Create a web-based blog that you could use in your classroom.  Using a blog website that you have explored from above or found on your own, create an online blog.  Include the subject area and instructional purpose and at least 3 written entries with a photo/clip art for each.   Include the URL of the blog site you chose.  List two safety tips for privacy protection when using blogs.

Submission

 

 

 

 

Post your activity as an html file to the McDaniel College Web Server, create a link to the file on your index page and send your instructor an email notification containing a hotlink to the assignment and the assignment file’s URL.

Rubric

 

Criteria

 

Unacceptable

Developing

Accomplished

Instructional purpose and subject area

Brief statement of some unaligned purpose, No specific curriculum addressed.

Statement of  purpose,   Recognizable curriculum

Well stated purpose and specific curriculum addressed.

Photographs/clip art

 

Fewer than three photographs/clip art with weak connection to the instructional purpose.

Three photographs/clip art with brief connections to the instructional purpose.

Three or more photographs/clip art with a clear connection to the instructional purpose.

Written Entries

Fewer than three written entries with weak connection to the instructional purpose. No specific curriculum addressed.

Three written entries with brief connections to the instructional purpose. Specific recognizable

Three or more written entries with a clear connection to the instructional purpose.

Format

Random display of photographs and written entries

Organized display of photographs and written entries

Well organized display of photographs and written entries

Bibliography of Other Resources and Readings

 

Educational Blogs Blog information and sample blogs to use in an educational setting. http://educational.blogs.com/

 

High School Blogs Read additional sample high school blogs.

http://www.teacherlink.org/content/blog/

 

Blog City Has a great detailed support system that takes you through each step and offers tips on adding Be careful.  The blogs are not totally kid safe.  Children must be 13 or older.  This site is more appropriate for college level blogs.   http://www.blog-city.com/bc/

 

ISTE Standards

 

This course activity addresses the following ISTE Standards:

I. Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts. Teachers:

A. Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.

II. Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Teachers:                                         A. Design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.                                                                                                    C. Identifies and locates technology resources and evaluates them for accuracy and suitability.                                                                           D. Plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.

III. Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning.                      B. Use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students.

IV. Teachers apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies. Teachers:                                                    A. Use technology resources to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate findings to improve instructional practice and maximize student learning.

A complete listing of all ISTE standards can be found at:

National Educational Standards for Teachers - http://cnets.iste.org/teachers/t_stands.html

 

 

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