Blogging Terminology

Blog An abbreviation for “Web Log” Blogs are dynamic websites that are updated frequently.

Avatar – A graphical representation of a person Blogosphere – The blogging community Blog Roll – A list of recommended blogs Comment Moderation – Allows the blog owner to approve or reject comments Comment Spam – Uninvited and unrelated blog comments

CSS – Cascading Style Sheets describe the presentation of a document in a markup language. Ping – Lets search engines know you’ve updated your blog Podcast – An audio recording made available on the Internet RSS – Really Simple Syndication is a format for delivering regularly changing web content.

Vodcast – A video recording made available on the Internet Widget – Displays information or allows the user to interact with the application (i.e. # of hits, calendar, search forms, etc.)

l Blogging for Student and Staff Success Julie Holland Alvarado ISD

Advantages of Blogging Some will communicate that would otherwise not speak out in a group setting Gives thought time before responding Chance for students to practice writing skills Ability to approve comments before they become public

Blog Features Can create photo album Can attach files to posts Most critical feature – ALL comments are moderated (must be approved by teacher before they appear on website)

Math Improvement Center Administered by assistant principal Teachers at high school and junior high collaborate and share ideas

Continuous Improvement Administered by assistant principal AJH Book Study Teachers were already assigned to read specific parts of book at certain time – now they blog thoughts and answers to questions

AIS Staff Blog Administered by intermediate school principal & assistant principal Teachers & staff post –Ideas for staff development –Comments on book studies

Elementary Teacher Blog Pages Administered by elementary teachers Use blog site to post information in place of teacher web pages

Thanks for the Technology Adminstered by 4 th grade teacher 4 th graders post from time to time about –How they are using technology –What they like/don’t like about using technology –Their ideas for how they could use technology

Thanks for the Technology (cont’d) GREAT way to show administrators how much students are using technology and that they appreciate it Students are asking computer teacher if they can post during computer time Teacher adding grammar/spelling requirement for posts for them to be approved

Student in Hospital Administered by Instructional Technology/Asst. Principal Student in extended hospital stay – says what he misses most are his friends Students and teachers can blog messages with him

Mrs. Morris’ Blog for Young Historians Administered by high school social studies teacher Teacher poses questions for student response

Mrs. Shiver’s 6 th Grade Social Studies Administered by intermediate social studies teacher Teacher expectations Updates on Lost Boy of Sudan who visited the students

6 th Grade Language Arts Administered by 6 th grade Language Arts teacher Students posted answers to 4 questions in order to develop an essay about their personal dreams

Elementary Bilingual/ESL Administered by ELL teacher Teacher and students blog in English and Spanish

8 th Grade Language Arts Administered by 8 th grade LA teacher Students post: –Original poetry –Responses to thought questions based on book they’re reading –Personal Dreams assignment – essay building

Flat Stanley Blog Administered by 2 nd grade teacher Sent Flat Stanley out tradition way and through our geocache Flat Stanley hosts had option to blog his adventures in place of written journals

GPS Geocoin Blog Administered by Instructional Technology Students placed wooden coins imprinted with blog site in geocaches Each coin had name & goal Those that found the geocoins were asked to blog their travels.

GPS Camp Daily Blog Administered by Instructional Technology Question or “thought provoker” posted each day Students post before leaving each day

4 th /5 th Grade Blog Administered by Instructional Technology (may hand off this year!) Designed to alleviate fear of new campus 4 th grade students post questions they have about going to intermediate campus Selected 5 th graders respond to 4 th graders’ posts

Blogging serves as an alternative mode for student expression: BE CREATIVE!! Julie Holland: