Action Research Presented by Tania Bellamy Aim: To increase the communication between school and home through using a blog.

Why I chose my topic? 1.To investigate if blogging increases the communication between home and school by keeping parents updated with happenings and achievements. 2. To learn how a blog works. 3.To see whether blogging is worthwhile. 1.To investigate if blogging increases the communication between home and school by keeping parents updated with happenings and achievements. 2. To learn how a blog works. 3.To see whether blogging is worthwhile.

What I did? - Method April 2008  Set up blog - outram7.blogspot.com  Made a Banner  Set up blog - outram7.blogspot.com  Made a Banner

Posted Room 7’s first event with text and a photo

Room 7’s Business Cards

Letter for Room 7’s parents

Permission Slips  Permission slips were obtained from the parents to allow themselves and their children to be posted on the blog.

Gadgets -Added counter

Added clustrmap

Added Neocounter

Added Survey by polldaddy.com

As my blogging knowledge increased I added….  Websites

Children’s Achievements Photo and text made by blogger.com Photo and text made by blogger.com

Children’s Achievements made by rockyou.com

Photos from children made by rockyou.com

Slideshows from bubbleshare.com

Cartoons by comiclife.com

Wordle.net

Music by BooMP3.com

Music on the blog!

Videos using Blogger

Youtube videos

Maths Displays

Theme Displays

Children’s stories

Mathletics

More Gadgets - Clock added from clocklink.com

Calendar added from localcalendar.com

Carousel added by widgets.amazon.com Carousel added by widgets.amazon.com

Notices, Events coming up

Comments and how they work

Examples of Comments

Problems I encountered…  Families without computers  Computers not working at school and home  Parents/children unable to leave comments  Statistical Counter disappeared after 1000 hits  New statistics counter didn’t work to begin with  Forgetting to take photos, videos etc in the classroom to put on the blog  The time it takes to upload photos onto websites eg: rockyou.com  The time it takes to maintain the blog  No internet at home until just recently  Families without computers  Computers not working at school and home  Parents/children unable to leave comments  Statistical Counter disappeared after 1000 hits  New statistics counter didn’t work to begin with  Forgetting to take photos, videos etc in the classroom to put on the blog  The time it takes to upload photos onto websites eg: rockyou.com  The time it takes to maintain the blog  No internet at home until just recently

What I found out? -Results  Surveyed the parents  Video Interviews  Surveyed the parents  Video Interviews

Parent Survey Results How often do you visit our class blog? EverydayWeeklyMonthlyNever EverydayWeeklyMonthlyNever

How often do you leave a comment on the blog? FrequentlyOccasionallyNever FrequentlyOccasionallyNever

Parent’s Responses What do you like about the blog?  Keeps us informed about what ’ s happening in the classroom and its really interesting to look at to see how Jason (son) is getting on.  Keeps us informed about what ’ s happening in the classroom and its really interesting to look at to see how Jason (son) is getting on.

 Keeps us up to date with what is happening in the classroom as we miss out on a lot.  I like the photos and to hear what you are doing in class and what ’ s coming up soon.  Creates talking points with your child.  Keeps us up to date with what is happening in the classroom as we miss out on a lot.  I like the photos and to hear what you are doing in class and what ’ s coming up soon.  Creates talking points with your child.

 Nice to see the kids and get some information on what is going on. Will (son) doesn ’ t say much!!  It ’ s an excellent way to see what the class is doing for those of us with pre-schoolers and who cannot spend time in the classroom.  I think it ’ s such a great idea especially for friends and family living outside the area.  Nice to see the kids and get some information on what is going on. Will (son) doesn ’ t say much!!  It ’ s an excellent way to see what the class is doing for those of us with pre-schoolers and who cannot spend time in the classroom.  I think it ’ s such a great idea especially for friends and family living outside the area.

Video of parent’s comments

Does your child enjoy visiting the blog?  He enjoys showing me what ’ s new, and what children in his class are achieving.  He enjoys showing me what ’ s new, and what children in his class are achieving.

He loves to see other children as well as himself and point them out to me and his grandparents. Makes him feel proud of himself and the class. He loves to see other children as well as himself and point them out to me and his grandparents. Makes him feel proud of himself and the class.

 She loves to see herself and her classmates and showing us at home what she is up to and learning at school.  She loves to see herself and her classmates and showing us at home what she is up to and learning at school.

Children’s comments about our Blog

Would you like to see the blog continue? YesDoesn’t bother meNo 1630 YesDoesn’t bother meNo 1630

Suggestions for improvement I really love it – I think Tania -you put loads of time, effort and imagination into it and it shows. It ’ s great. The time you spend doing it, is appreciated as it is really great to see what is going on in the classroom. Keep it up! * I think it ’ s Fab! I really love it – I think Tania -you put loads of time, effort and imagination into it and it shows. It ’ s great. The time you spend doing it, is appreciated as it is really great to see what is going on in the classroom. Keep it up! * I think it ’ s Fab!

Suggestions for improvement  *Why change something that ’ s working – great now!  *Nothing I can think of at the moment. Well Done Mrs Bellamy for the great effort and time you put into producing the blog and information on it.  *Why change something that ’ s working – great now!  *Nothing I can think of at the moment. Well Done Mrs Bellamy for the great effort and time you put into producing the blog and information on it.

Suggestions 1. A link at the top to the teacher. 2. If possible it would be great to see a school blog – that could be linked to each class. 1. A link at the top to the teacher. 2. If possible it would be great to see a school blog – that could be linked to each class.

Constructive Criticism  *It can take a long time to load, with all the graphics, counters and clustermaps! It is quite a ‘busy’ blog.  *It can take a long time to load, with all the graphics, counters and clustermaps! It is quite a ‘busy’ blog.

Conclusion Blogging…..  enriched the classroom programme.  provided a means of seeing children’s successes at home.  increased academic results  heightened children’s self-esteem  brought school into the home and the home into the school.  increased the communication between school and home.  increased the communication between parents, their children and extended family members. Blogging…..  enriched the classroom programme.  provided a means of seeing children’s successes at home.  increased academic results  heightened children’s self-esteem  brought school into the home and the home into the school.  increased the communication between school and home.  increased the communication between parents, their children and extended family members.

Where to next?  Set up blogging buddies with another class or school next year.  Try a ‘wiki’ or ‘Edublog’ for next year!!!  Set up blogging buddies with another class or school next year.  Try a ‘wiki’ or ‘Edublog’ for next year!!!

 Many thanks to Room 7 pupils and parents of Outram School  Many thanks to Room 7 pupils and parents of Outram School. 2008