Blogging and learner autonomy Three questions Do you have enough computers with Internet access for all the students in your school? Do your students use the Internet regularly outside class? Do your students feel more comfortable with new technology than you?

Blogging and learner autonomy By the end of this workshop you will: have looked at examples of ELT blogs and considered the advantages of using blogs with learners be aware of the differences between a tutor blog, class blog and a learner blog have considered some issues related to using blogs with learners have set up your own blog and become familiar with the tools be ready to start blogging with your learners

Blogging and learner autonomy What is a blog? Blog is short for weblog. A weblog is a journal (or newsletter) that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. A public web site where users post informal journals of their thoughts, comments, and philosophies, updated frequently and normally reflecting the views of the blog's creator. Weblogs enable users to publish short comments and ideas instantly for other people to read. Blogging can be an effective communications tool for small groups of people to keep in touch with each other. Because of the simplicity of creating a blog, many people (often young kids and adults) have found a new presence on the Web. Definitions taken from

Blogging and learner autonomy Why do teachers use blogs? Listen to Carla Arena, a teacher working in Brazil, and what she says about blogging with her students. Source:How to Teach English with Technology by Gavin Dudeney and Nicky Hockly

Blogging and learner autonomy So what are the main benefits of blogging with our learners? Blogs provide extra reading/writing practice for students and increase the audience for their written work Blogs guide students to online resources appropriate for their level, and encourage students to find their own resources and pursue subjects that interest them Blogs can increase the sense of community in a class and stimulate out-of-class discussion as well as encouraging shy students to participate Blogs encourage a process-writing approach and create an online portfolio of student written work as students generate their own class material Blogs cater to mixed ability classes as students can work at their own pace Students enjoy operating with media that's in tune with their generation, and have the gratifying experience of expressing themselves in English within an authentic environment Source:

Blogging and learner autonomy Look at some blogs. Which blog/s… is/are for learners to communicate with other learners? give/s learners extra study tips ? is/are by an individual learner? was/were created by a teacher for specific learners? is/are primarily for learners to upload content? seem/s very teacher-led?

Blogging and learner autonomy Three types of blogs The Tutor Blog run by the teacher of a class syllabus, course information, homework, assignments, etc students normally restricted to being able to write comments to the teacher's posts

Blogging and learner autonomy Three types of blogs The Class Blog shared space, with teacher and students being able to write to the main area students can be encouraged to reflect in more depth, in writing, on themes touched upon in class students are given a greater sense of freedom and involvement than with the tutor blog

Blogging and learner autonomy Three types of blogs The Learner Blog more time and effort from the teacher to both set up and moderate student's own personal online space students can be encouraged to write frequently about what interests them, and can post comments on other students' blogs

Blogging and learner autonomy Tips for managing blogs Blogs tend to be short lived (only 50% of blogs remain active 3 months after being set up). Follow this advice to maintain learner motivation: Plan how you want to use the blog with a specific class and the timescale Create your own blog to show students to give them a model Leave brief, regular comments or questions on learners' posts Use the blog to evaluate written work and collect errors for class use Encourage your learners to be creative with their blogs and personalise them Invite a 'mystery guest' onto the blog to engage with your learners Link up with learners in different classes/countries Source: How to Teach English with Technology by Gavin Dudeney and Nicky Hockly

Blogging and learner autonomy Setting up blogs with your learners Before the lesson - create a sample blog (1 hour) Set up your own blog. This allows you to become familiar with the blogging tools, and will give your learners a model in terms of content/look/language level. In class - set up student blogs (1 hour) Show your blog to the learners (set some comprehension questions to help them find their way round it). If you want them to create their own blogs, take them to the computer room and guide them through the set up process. At home - posting and commenting on blogs (20-30 mins between lessons) Encourage learners to comment/post to other blogs by sharing blog addresses with each other. Follow up - using the blog (over the course) Start using the blog to post links relating to lesson content. Encourage learners to develop content based on their interests. Start a project based on the blog, or use the blog to evaluate writing. Link to blogs in other countries. Source: How to Teach English with Technology by Gavin Dudeney and Nicky Hockly

Blogging and learner autonomy Setting up your blog Watch a short film on how to set up a blog. Then go to the link 'Start your blog' and create your blog. Use the bullets below to guide you through the features of blogs. Write an introduction explaining what your blog is about Give permission to anybody to write comments on your blog Add a blogroll and a poll Change the colours in your blog Change the layout of page elements Visit someone else's blog and leave a comment

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