blogs ! Group Project

 

In his blog "Get off the Sidelines and Into the Game," Ryan Bretag says, "The key to making blogs a transformative part of the classroom requires an intimate knowledge of blogging." He contends that teachers need to blog themselves if they expect students to blog. Do you agree?

 

Working together using this wiki Group members Individual Projects Rich Turner Shelley Isakson

 

Working together using this wiki

 

 

 

Group members

 

• Stacey Tillotson
• Lynne Smigiel
• Joyce Bertilson
• Cathey Wright
• Joy Bastow
• Rich Turner
• Shelley Isakson

 

Individual Projects

 

 

Joyce Bertilson

Research Topic: Blogs

Definition: The term blog was coined in 1997 and is actually short for web log or weblog. A blog is like a journal or a diary that usually reflects the personality of the author. Blogs are updated frequently and can be displayed in either chronological or reverse chronological order.

 

Exemplary blog sites:

Music Technology in Education

Music Technology.Net

Music Education News

Podcomplex Music Technology

A Music Education Blog Collective

Miika Salavuo

Techdirt

Allen IB Music

 

All of the sites listed above provide excellent examples of blogs as models for the students. These sites also provide excellent information to keep myself and the students current on trends in music technology and provide some additional IB resources for my IB students. I have linked to several of the sites when writing my blogs as there are several articles found in these resources that I would like to have the students read.

 

Classroom Application:

Equipment: computer and blog sites - North Canyon IB Music Blog and North Canyon Music Tech Blog

 

Process: I used blogs for two classes - IB Music and Music Technology. Because a lot of what we do in IB Music is independent study, blogging seemed like a good fit. I post a blog once a week dealing with a specific topic that was in their reading or music listening that week. Students are then given until the end of the week to respond to my post. It gives us the opportunity to communicate on a regular basis and allows me to see if students are grasping the concepts in their reading. It also provides additional writing practice to get them prepared for their IB exam in the spring. I am also using blogs in Music Technology in much the same way. I again try to post once a week about a topic dealing with music technology (copyright issues, current trends, software programs, etc.). My hope is that I can introduce students to relevant topics that we don't always have enough time in class to cover and to put some thought into how music and technology effect their everyday lives. I usually give students one week to respond to my posting. Once a student finishes the project we've been working on in class, they can use the remainder of their class time to respond to my post. Some students also choose to post from home.

 

Reflection:

Using blogs met with two very diverse reactions from my students. The IB students were very comfortable using blogs and I could see they put much thought into what they wrote. I felt like it has been successful thus far and will help to better prepare the students for the extensive writing they do on their IB exams. On the other hand, my music technology students moaned and groaned when the idea of blogging was presented. I was quite surprised by their reaction. I didn't think they would react poorly to having an opportunity to be on the internet. For many of the students they wanted to do as little as possible to be done with the blogging assignment and were not really interested in reading my post and addressing the question, but rather more interested in just commenting on what other students wrote. I didn't mind if they commented on other student's postings, but I did also expect that they answer my original question. It has taken a lot of redirecting to get the students to answer appropriately, but they are getting better. In addition, some of my postings required that they read an article and some students didn't like that. Many of the worst offenders did end up coming around and found it wasn't so bad after all. When I had a couple of weeks where I didn't get a blog posted, they were inquiring when they'd have another one to be able to respond to. Reading the students comments gave me some good insight into what is going on in their minds and has led to some interesting class discussions. I do think it helps the kids be more engaged in the learning process and forces students to think a little more for themselves. In the classroom setting, you don't have time to ask every single student for their response, but this allows all students to respond - they can't hide in the back of the room and hope the teacher doesn't call on them.

 

 

 

• Cathey Wright

 

Research Topic: Blogs

 

 

Definition: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page (from dictionary.com)

 

 

Exemplary Websites

 

http://micwc.typepad.com/blog/

http://www.grandviewlibrary.org/

http://anne.teachesme.com/2004/02/24/elementary-school-blogs-created/

http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=41233

 

 

These websites will be examples for both AR blogging and the Civil War Re-enactment

 

Classroom Application

• Equipment: laptop cart and blog sites (blogger.com and/or eblogger.com)

 

Process: As students read and finish AR books and complete their tests, they will go to the proper blog site to share their impressions and likes or dislikes for the book. We will be sharing this site with Lynne Smigiel.

A second project is on a separate Blog site to include group reactions and personal feelings about the Civil War re-enactment in my fifth grade classrom. This will be an ongoing project until the end of the unit.

 

Reflections:

 

 

 

Joy Bastow

 

 

Research Topic: Blogs

 

Definition: (Short for Weblog) A type of website where entries are made, such as in a journal or a diary, and displayed in a reverse chronological order. Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Most blogs are primarily textual although many focus on photographs (photoblog), video (vblog), or audio (podcasting).

 

The word blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

 

Exemplary sites:

Building Rainbows

Readers Read

The Page Flipper

Teen Book Review

Young Adult Books Central

Reading Rants

 

Each of these sites give students examples of teen book reviews. They also give book reviews that the students might want to peruse to find books that they would like to read in the future. Also to find out what their fellow teens think about a particular book.

 

 

Classroom Application:

 

Equipment: Computer, PVLearners account and internet access to Blogger and the Shea Reads blog.

 

Process: Students access the Blogger website, sign in and post a review of the book they have read.

 

Ways used in class: Students went to the Shea Reads blog and saw the format. We also went to numerous bogs where other teens have been posting book reviews. Expectations were explained and a hand out was distributed outlining what should and should not be contained in a book review. Our PV Learners accounts were opened up for us on Thursday, November 30th. I invited all book club members to our blog on Friday. Seven of them got their PV Learners account started and got added as authors to our blog. These seven students posted a book review to the blog over the weekend. Many have been commenting in support of each other's book reviews.

 

Reflection: By the time we finally got access to our PV Learners accounts, these students were excited and ready to go with it. They had been anticipating this opportunity to get their book opinions out there on the web. These are kids that love books and love to read, so they want others to know about their favorite books. Hopefully they will continue to critique the books they read. Many of the students just haven’t figured out how to get going with it. I will have to work with each of them. Many of them have expressed a desire, but either don’t have the access, or don’t have the techy ability to get started. I will continue to work with them and get all of them going with it.

 

 

 

Rich Turner

 

Research Topic:

• Blogs

 

Definition:

 

A blog (or web log) is a website where postings are written frequently and usually displayed in reverse chronological order. The term Blog can be either a noun or a verb. Blogs are often used as online diaries but can also be written on any topic the author chooses. Typically a blog combines text, images, movies, and links to other blogs and web pages related to its topic. An important part of many blogs is the ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format.

 

Exemplary Sites:

 

http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/sanborn/blog/

http://itc.blogs.com/thewriteweblog/2004/11/who_says_elemen.html

http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=41233

http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers

 

 

Classroom Application:

 

Equipment:

 

1.) Laptop cart or Computer lab 2.) PVLearners accounts for the students 3.) Blog sites - such as "Blogger .com" or "Edublogs.com"

 

Ways I used Blogs in my class:

 

I am using blogs as a way for my students to reflect on their learning. Beginning with once a week (and later I am hopeful to move to 2 to 3 times per week), the students in my class will need to write at least one (and hopefully more) specific thing they have learned since their last blog. It cannot be something about recess, lunch, etc. Since our students accounts have just been set up, I have had my students use the comment section of my blog to begin the process. It has the advantage of being annonymous, and was something I could do before accounts were set up and permissions acquired.

 

Reflection:

 

 

Shelley Isakson

 

Research Topic: Blogs

 

 

Definition:

A blog (short for weblog) is an online journal or diary of an individual’s opinions and latest news that is updated regularly, in chronological order. Many blogs allow visitors to make comments, or “postings” in response to the blogger, or ask questions.

 

 

Exemplary sites:

http://www.grandviewlibrary.org/

http://cssresearch.blogspot.com/

http://ashworth.wordpress.com/2007/10/07/best-series-books-for-your-elementary-library/

http://ilearn.woodfordschools.org/shorowitz/

 

The sites listed above provide excellent sources for students to view and gather additional book titles from. The sites will entice students to read other books they may not know about.

 

 

Classroom Application:

I created a blog for students to share their favorite books. Fifth grade students went to the blog site and added information about their favorite books. The students shared verbally with one another about books. It was a very interesting project and students checked out books that were recommended to them by their peers.

  http://dcnowreadthis.blogspot.com/

Equipment:

Laptop computers and blog sites

 

Process:

I am using blogs in the Media Center to help students find books to read. It is a clever way for students to interact with one another and read books they may not otherwise know about or read. Also, to post personal feelings and reactions about stories each of them have read.

 

Reflection:

We are waiting for our students to bring back permission forms for PV Learner accounts. Can't wait to get going on this and other various projects. A special thank you goes out to Cherie and Kathryn for teaching this class. The learning curve was huge!!

 

 

 

Stacey Tillotson

Culinary Arts Class - 8th grade

A. Research Topic****: Blog (short for web log)

 

1.DefinitionA blog is an online journal or ongoing dialogue with fellow bloggers. The posts (comments) are listed in chronological.

 

2. Exemplary**** sites or examples of Blogs on the Internet:

http://dineandish.squarespace.com/

http://squarespace.com/

http://wordpress.org/

http://blogger.com

 

The first two sites, from squarespace.com are not free to use. From looking at the features it offers, its appears to be much more user friendly then the Blog site that I used for my blog platform, blogger.com. If you were a serious blogger and you wanted to subscribe, the average monthly fee was $12.00. The dineanddish Blog I found sounded very interesting and I may continue to look into that because of my interest in food.

 

Wordpress is a free Blog platform, similar to Blogger. I could use this in my classroom if the pvlearner accounts the students use work. I will be setting up a new Blog for my new classes second semester and will try a different platform if possible.

 

Blogger.com is the first website I tried, it worked, so I went with it. I have found it to be a little confusing (this could definitely be operator error not website inequity). The different login pages for students and teachers, toooooo many navigation tools just to get to a post. Students weren't able to figure out how to edit the posting after they published.

 

B. Classroom Application:

I asked students to blog about their culinary experiences. These could include their own cooking experiences, dining out, the cooking labs at school, things they observed about the way food is marketed, presented and advertised. It was a pretty broad scope hoping to catch their interest and posting about something.

 

1.Equipment: computers, Internet access, pvlearner account and password, parent permission slips.

 

• 2. Ways I used the Blog http://mtmsculinary8.blogspot.com in my class was to read their thoughts on the labs we had just completed.

They have a big final lab coming up next week and I will be asking for all the students to post their comments on the Blog.

 

3.Reflections: I had my eighth grade students participate in this project. I was disappointed with their level of enthusiasm, I had anticipated a much larger group involved. I figure they're on the internet anyway, why not talk to your friends about what you're doing in class for some extra points.

 

I will be using this again next semester, with different guidelines, platform and requirements. I think by including it in the beginning of the class and having the students evaluate their labs via the blog it will have a better buy in to the process.

 

 

 

Lynne Smigiel

 

A. Research Topic: Blog

 

1. Definition: The word Blog is short for web log. It is a website created for the purpose of sharing commentary on a particular subject. Blog entries are written in chronological order but are read in reverse chronological order. Readers leave comments in an interactive format on many Blogs, which allow for audience discussions.

 

2. Three exemplary sites, or examples of this Web.2.0 tool on the Internet.

a. Blogger

b. myTypes

c. squarespace

 

 

Describe ways in which you could use each example in your classroom. My web log is at: http://smigiel.blogspot.com/

a. I chose Blogger as my weblog publishing tool to create the Blog I am using with my students. I will explain below how I implemented it in my classroom.

b. MyTypes would be a great tool to use in creating a video Blog. Students could use this format to create a video in various areas, particularly as an extension or culminating project after reading a novel. Students enjoy writing and filming their own version of the story line or creating a skit based on the theme. Students could add these to a video Blog and share with their classmates.

c. Squarespace has a neat feature that would be great for my students. It allows for multiple editors. “With audiences, you can designate certain users as content editors or website contributors. This allows multiple users to collaborate and publish content on one website. Editor activity is tracked, and you are provided with granular control over which areas of your site may be edited by whom.” This would be a nice addition for my weblog so along with me, I could have students be the editors as well. As an English teacher, this is always a benefit.

 

 

B. Classroom Application: I created a Blog where my students could write about Accelerated Reader (AR) books they are currently reading and want to tell others about.

 

1. Equipment: List what equipment is needed, and the process that it involves.

a. Computer for students to post their Blogs

b. Media cart to project Blog to show students how to use it

 

 

2. Ways I used a Blog in my class: After getting permission slips signed from each parent for students to use my Blog, I explained to my students what they were to do, including the sign on process. I had one student post his comment. I reviewed it for accuracy and used it as my example for students to see my expectations. Students were instructed to add at least one comment this quarter. This would be graded and was required. I also encouraged my students to read other entries as they are posted and respond to other students’ comments. This part of the “assignment” is not required but students would get extra credit for responding to others. They could respond to more than one entry and receive even more extra credit. Most students did their entries as homework but some students who needed some extra guidance completed it in class.

 

 

 

3. Reflection (Did you see a difference in student attitude? Engagement? Motivation? Achievement? Did the use of the tool add value to your instruction?)

This has been a great asset to my reading program. Overall, my students are very positive about writing on the Blog. Students have said, “The Blog is a great idea for communicating about AR books.” They like that they can discuss the books they are reading in a familiar forum. Most students have commented that they think it is useful and fun way to help them find books at their reading level, ones that other kids have recommended. For these reasons, I am glad I have used this in my classroom. I plan on making a few adjustments for next semester, but will continue my Blog for the remainder of the school year.