BY: MARY BONDON Chapter Two & Chapter Three WEBLOGS

Topics to be discussed in Chapter 2 & 3 Chapter 2 Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice Weblogs in schools The pedagogy of weblogs Blogging across the curriculum Blogs as a resource Classroom uses of weblogs Standards for the English Language Chapter 3 Weblogs: Getting Started! Start Small Blogging with students Blog Safety Blogging step by step Adding pictures and more to blog post

What is a Weblog? A Weblog is an easily created, easily updateable web site that allows an author or different authors to publish instantly to the internet from any internet connection. As the world revolves technology becomes more advanced. Weblogs are comprised of reflections and conversations that in many cases are updated everyday.

Entering the purpose for blogging David Jakes’ blog “The Strength of Weak Ties” is one of many popular “edu” blogs. Like most, regular posts are featured in the middle column while links to other bloggers and archives can be found in the side columns.

The Purpose of Weblogs in Schools.. -Gives you the ability to turn in homework and class assignments through weblog. -Highly motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms. - Excellent opportunities for students to read and write. - Effective forums for collaboration and discussion. -Powerful tools to enable scaffolding learning or mentoring to occur. A WHOLE NEW WORLD Weblogs can serve at least four basic functions. 1. Classroom Management 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. 2. 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. 3. 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 be reactive to one another and reflective. 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. 4. 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.

LEARNING SPECIALIST FERNETTE AND BROCK EIDE’S RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BLOGGING IN ITS TRUEST FORM HAS A GREAT DEAL OF POTENTIALLY POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS. FINDING THAT BLOGS CAN: -PROMOTE ANALYTICAL AND CRITICAL THINKING -CREATIVE PROMOTER -INCREASE EXPOSURE TO QUALITY INFORMATION -COMBINE THE BEST SOCIAL INTERACTION HOT FACTS: 180 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WEBLOGS

MORGANITES WEBLOGS ARE CLOSE TO US.. Utility Links Weblogs come in many packages like blackboard. A classroom portal is the correct term allowing professors to communicate with us by posting our syllabus, class room assignments, grades, test and projects. Not only is a class room portal an easy way for teachers and students to communicate its also another way to GO GREEN and protect the earth by going paperless.

Knowing is Knowledge Before you can understand the pedagogy of weblogs you must understand the meaning of pedagogy: ped·a·go·gy noun, plural -gies. 1. the function or work of a teacher; teaching. 2. the art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods.

WEBLOGS ARE TRULY A CONTRUSTIVIST TOOL FOR LEARNING, BECAUSE THE CONTENT THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CREATE IS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB, IT IS CONTENT THAT BECOMES A PART OF THE WIDER BODY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT THE INTERNET REPRESENTS. The pedagogy of weblogs

START SMALL SAFETY When starting your own blog, you might want to start small by using the first few post to just create a link to something interesting that you’ve read along with a short excerpt, nothing more. Be a public blogger-put your name on your work. Do not air negative comments on blog. Monitor the content being posted Establish rules for online use Screen what your kids plan to post before they post it. Ask yourself (and instruct your kids to do the same) if you are you comfortable showing any of the content to a stranger. Evaluate the blogging service Save the web address of your child's blog Check out other blogs to find positive examples WEBLOGS:GET STARTED

BLOGGING IS SIMPLE JUST FIND THE BLOGGING SITE YOU WANT TO JOIN AND FOLLOW THE STEPS AND OPTIONS THEY GIVE YOU. EASY AS 1, 2, 3! FOR EXAMPLE: EDUBLOGS.ORG RUNS ON WORD PRESS AND IS AN OPEN SOURCE BLOG SOLUTION THAT HAS BECOME EXTREMELY POPULAR. IN JUST A COUPLE YEARS IT SERVES300,00 EDUCATION RELATED BLOGS. Blogging Step by Step

Advantages/Disadvantages With a weblog you have the ability to: Upload music Upload pictures Upload assignments Stream videos Easy way to communicate Need to keep it constantly updated otherwise you lose potential readers Easy to start, hard to maintain Lose physical connect with society

List of Weblogs… -facebook.com -twitter.com -edublogs.org -myspace.com -blackplanet.com -edweek.org -blackboard -friendster -instagram

BEING FUTURE READY… As of July 2011, there are an estimated 164 million blogs (from 3 million in 2004) -40% of bloggers are full time bloggers -About 2/3 of bloggers are male -The US has about 49% of the blogging population worldwide -5% of the blogs are business-focused and 14% are focused on technology or Internet marketing -Traffic sources: 41% Search Engines, 28% Social Media, 20% Referring Sites -WordPress is used by about 40% of the blogs (not noted whether WordPress.org or WordPress.com) -Top 3 most popular sites for Social Networking (and sharing content): Facebook, Twitter, Linked In

THANK YOU Please take the time to read chapter 2 & 3 in Will Richardson’s “Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms”