Welcome.

i've created this site to help teachers develop their own classroom blogs... we'll walk through all the steps together, you'll be floored by the ease and simplicity... and we'll leave today feeling very accomplished... tossing a new blog on the cloud.

prepare to impress yourself.prepare to blog.

Blogging Now

WE're going to take the plunge.

a prezi

Why Blog? on Prezi

Workshop Notes

the world lives in links.

Collaboration is one of the most important parts of learning. It's learning together. We have conversations. We put our heads together and discuss what we are learning. We bounce ideas off of each other. Blogs let many others enter the collaboration with us. We can learn from those in our classrooms and beyond.

GROUP-FORMING

two reasons kids use groups:

1. Friendship-based -- to maintain relationships with people they already know

2. Interest-based -- to form groups around shared passions, and meet people they don't know

There has been a landslide shift in leisure time. Kids don't meet to play stickball in the street, they meet on the web. Internet = Socialize.

.... What's the difference?

Blogs are conversations.

Wikis are collections.

RSS is a signal vs. noise

Why Blog?




Class blogs can serve as a portal to foster a community of learners. As they are easy to create and update efficiently, they can be used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts, notices, and homework assignments, or act as a question and answer board.

Collaboration


Blogs provide a space where teachers and students can work to further develop writing or other skills with the advantage of an instant audience. Teachers can offer instructional tips, and students can practice and benefit from peer review. They also make online mentoring possible. For example, a class of older students can help a class of younger students develop more confidence in their writing skills. Students can also participate in cooperative learning activities that require them to relay research findings, ideas, or suggestions.

Discussions

A class blog opens the opportunity for students to discuss topics outside of the classroom. With a blog, every person has an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions. Students have time to react to ideas and reflect on learning. Teachers can also bring together a group of knowledgeable individuals for a given unit of study for students to network and conference with on a blog.

Student Portfolios


Blogs present, organize, and protect student work as digital portfolios. As older entries are archived, developing skills and progress may be analyzed more conveniently. Additionally, as students realize their efforts will be published, they are typically more motivated to produce better writing. Teachers and peers may conference with a student individually on a developing work, and expert or peer mentoring advice can be easily kept for future reference.

Ref.

http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/blog-basics

(at least) 4 good functions:

Classroom Managemen

Will Richardson talks about blogging in schools.

First Impressions of Blogging...

Everyone's really excited to get started... well, almost everybody... we're a little nervous.

Create & Publish a Quiz in Google Docs

view tutorials: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/google-tools-tutorials.html

Student Rubric for Blogging

Evaluation

Anne Davis, of Georgia State University, designed a webquest to introduce elementary students to blogging.

Students:

Your writing will be honored on your blogs. You will have freedom to develop your writing. I want us to have some guidelines to help you review and reflect upon our writing and learning. We will use the 6 Trait Writing in Blogging rubric to help guide our writing.

6 Trait Writing in Blogging

CATEGORY	5	4	3	2	1
Ideas & Content	The student has original ideas and expresses them clearly. Ideas are related to the topic.	The student expresses some original ideas that are related to the topic.	The ideas expressed are not necessarily orignal; are not always connected to the topic.	The ideas expressed are not original or are not connected to the topic.	Writing is confused and off topic.
Organization	The organization enhances the central idea of the response. Order and structure moves the reader through the writing. The Introduction draws the reader and the conclusion makes sense. Transitions show how ideas connect .	The organization of the response is good and is related to the topic. Most of the order and structure moves the reader through the writing.	The organization of the response is somewhat confusing; the reader has to go through the response more than once to understand the response.	The organization of the response is confusing and seems to get off the topic; not clearly a response to the question posed.	Writing is totally disorganized.
Voice	The reader's questions are anticipated and answered thoroughly and completely. The reader has no doubt has to the writer's feelings about the topic.	The reader's questions are anticipated and answered to some extent. The reader has little doubt about the writer's feelings about the topic.	The reader is left with one or two questions. More information is needed to "fill in the blanks".	The reader is left with several questions.	The reader is not able to follow the writer's meaning or feelings about the topic.
Sentence Fluency	All sentences are well-constructed with varied structure.	Most sentences are well-constructed with varied structure.	Most sentences are well-constructed but have a similar structure.	Sentences lack structure and appear incomplete or rambling.	Incomplete sentences; use of phrases.
Word Choice	Words are vivid and colorful; using description, the writer creates a picture of their thoughts for the reader.	Words are vivid and colorful; using description, the writer tries to create a picture of their thoughts for the reader.	Some use of vivid and colorful words.	Words are adequate but not especially colorful; a bland response.	Words are bland and the writer seems to be uninterested.
Conventions	Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.	Writer makes a few errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.	Writer makes some errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.	Writer makes repeated errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.	Very hard to read due to errors.

Why Blog?

why blog

BlogHumor

"WHY NEVER TO ASK FAVORS FROM DESIGNERS"

Got this from someone I know who worked at ad agency:
Shannon (the secretary) has lost her cat and has asked

David (the graphic designer) to help with a lost poster. This is their email correspondence...
(Read from top to bottom.)

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks Shan.

From:David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news.
Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log ontoFacebook and look out of the window. I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter. I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.



From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.



From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.

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