Multimedia Workshop EDUC 8847 Orit Hirsh Easy steps to generate a web or a blog for learning.

Why you need a social networks in a classroom? What is social software? Social software has the ability to convert into context what others have produced. The instructor and the learners share and add each other to their network, generating the ability to collaborate and communicate on projects and ideas. The web blog helps to create a collaborative partnership among learners, the instructor and other professionals. How can it be used for teaching and learning? Blogs are simple tools that can be used to update learners on class activities, post reflections on class discussions, share and collaborate on projects and learning resources. Blogs allow readers to post comments. Learners can reflect, connect, and collaborate with other. Blogs are an easy and free way for students to publish their writing for others to read and comment

Why you need a social networks in a classroom? What is it? A Blog is a basic web page with posts presented in reverse chronological order. Creating a class web page blog not only disseminates information to learners, but also promotes an interactive learning experience. Additionally, it is a place where instructors can post learners’ work and teaches students to participate and use social and collaborative technologies.

Why you need a social networks in a classroom? What you need to know: Blogs have risks because they are public and these risks should be discussed with learners. Students’ personal information and private discussions do not have a place in a blog created for class. Blogs allow students to share their journaling with their classmates and with the world. Blogs can be written by one person or by many. Blogs allow readers to leave comments on entries and may be used to begin important class discussions.

 Does adding graphics and audio to educational materials fosters learning? Yes, two channels (verbal and visual mode) are better than only one mode. “Giving the learner twice as much exposure to the explanation” (Mayer. 2009, p.4). Are all visuals and audio equally effective? The words and graphics can complement one another which can foster learning.

Designing blogs and websites for education Five basic types of media and how to incorporate them successfully Images include graphs, maps, photographs, and drawings. Motion: Video: Animation: Good background image : Text easy to read Bad background image: Hard to read text Text Web-safe fonts: for a specified font to appear correctly in a browser, it must be available on the user’s computer. The following is a list of most common fonts : Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Times New Roman Verdana, sans-serif, and Geneva. Use Bullet points and short paragraphs. Audio: click for sound

How to design a class blog Create a Free Google Gmail account or if you have already an account sign in with your Gmail account. How does it work? No technical skills required! Prospective users can sign up with an online service such as Blogger (

How to design a class blog Your registration will be finalized after you will name your blog and choose a template from a suggested list of templates.

How to design a class blog Have complete and easy control.

How to design a class blog Blogs can incorporate graphics and video.

How to design a class Website How does it work? No technical skills required Prospective users can sign up with an online free service such as Weebly

How to design a class Website How does it work? 70+ Professional Designs (or Customize Your Own) right in the Weebly editor.

How to design a class Website Add pictures, videos, music, audio, documents, maps, and photo galleries.

Learn more… Blog examples: The White House Blog: Education: Technology Education: Blogs in ESL classroom: Moving to the Public: Weblogs in the Writing Classroom:

Learn more… Using Weebly to build your Classroom Website: Mrs. Craun’s High School Biology Class: Weebly website for Geometry class : Weebly website created fro 3 rd grade class: ripplingpond.weebly.com/

According to Prensky (2001), digital natives have “spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age ” (Prensky, 2001, p. 1). Have fun creating your class blogs and websites where students can foster creativity and construct knowledge. Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On The Horizon, 9(5). %20Part1.pdf %20Part1.pdf

Reference: Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press Mayer, R. (2008). Applying the Science of Learning: Evidence-Based Principles for the Design of Multimedia Instruction. American Psychologist, 63(8), Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On The Horizon, 9(5). %20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf %20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf