Learning Journals, parental reporting and personal wikis

Overview Introducing Local Communities Overview of Local Community types Set Up Creating local communities Local Community types in detail Learning Logs: pupil- and teacher-led  sharing a blog entry with the whole class sharing a blog entry with the whole class  How parents can receive updates to the blog How parents can receive updates to the blog Parental Reporting Personal Wikis  Ideas for pupil-led personal wikis Ideas for pupil-led personal wikis Learning Journals, parental reporting and personal wikis

Introducing Local Communities Local communities are the same as normal communities. The only difference is that they are associated and attached to a particular user's account. Members of these communities will see them appear on their homepage under their communities list, the same as any other community. Local communities are the same as normal communities. The only difference is that they are associated and attached to a particular user's account. Members of these communities will see them appear on their homepage under their communities list, the same as any other community.

Types of Local Community The main types of local community are: A teacher-led learning log A teacher-led learning log may be used to share work and create a learning dialogue between a pupil and his or her parents and teachers. A pupil-led learning log The pupil-led learning log gives pupils rights to create blog entries and upload and create files in the gallery area. Parental Reporting A parental reporting community may be used as a place for teachers and parents to create a dialogue and/or report on the progress of a child. Personal Wiki This creates a local community for the children with just the wiki area enabled. Pupils can update this area with research or create a newspaper. Each type of local community is created with differing features enabled. The different types of community will be will explained in more detail later. First we will look at the process of creating local communities. The main types of local community are: A teacher-led learning log A teacher-led learning log may be used to share work and create a learning dialogue between a pupil and his or her parents and teachers. A pupil-led learning log The pupil-led learning log gives pupils rights to create blog entries and upload and create files in the gallery area. Parental Reporting A parental reporting community may be used as a place for teachers and parents to create a dialogue and/or report on the progress of a child. Personal Wiki This creates a local community for the children with just the wiki area enabled. Pupils can update this area with research or create a newspaper. Each type of local community is created with differing features enabled. The different types of community will be will explained in more detail later. First we will look at the process of creating local communities.

Step 1: After logging in with your teacher account, click on the 3 dots at the bottom right of your My Class Tile and select Manage Class. (You will need the teacher+ theme enabled to see this view). Please note: If you are creating local communities for a group that is not your class then they can be created from the People area of any community instead. Local communities can also be created for individuals in the settings area of any account. Please note: If you are creating local communities for a group that is not your class then they can be created from the People area of any community instead. Local communities can also be created for individuals in the settings area of any account. Creating Local Communities

Step 2: Select Create Local Communities Step 3: You can now select the type of local community you wish to create. For more information on the different types, please see later.

As shown below the gallery and blog tools will be automatically enabled when you create a learning log. The pupil's own user icon is added as the community icon. There are two types of learning log: 1. Pupil-led : Adds the pupil and parents as members of the log. Both the teacher and pupil have editing rights. This means that the pupil can update the blog and add images and files to the gallery. Pupils will not have access to the administration area through the cogs. Pupils may like to use this area to keep an on-going record of their learning: thoughts and reflections on topic work on the blog and examples of work (files and images) in the gallery etc. As shown below the gallery and blog tools will be automatically enabled when you create a learning log. The pupil's own user icon is added as the community icon. There are two types of learning log: 1. Pupil-led : Adds the pupil and parents as members of the log. Both the teacher and pupil have editing rights. This means that the pupil can update the blog and add images and files to the gallery. Pupils will not have access to the administration area through the cogs. Pupils may like to use this area to keep an on-going record of their learning: thoughts and reflections on topic work on the blog and examples of work (files and images) in the gallery etc. Learning Logs

2. Teacher-led : Adds the pupil and their parents as members of the log. The teacher has editing rights. Pupils can also make comments. This differs from the ‘Parental Reporting’ type of local community. Parents can reply to comments in the forum and make comments on any pictures or files (i.e. Work) that has been saved/published to the gallery. Teachers can make comments tor individual pupils or publish comments to the class group as a whole. Learning Logs

Once you have set up teacher-led local communities for your class, there may be times when you would like to create a blog entry that can be shared with every pupil in your class. To do this click on the Manage Class button on your My Class tile options area. Next select the appropriate local community from the drop down menu and put a tick next to all the pupils you wish to share your blog entry with. Click on Write Blogs to complete and share your entry. Once you have set up teacher-led local communities for your class, there may be times when you would like to create a blog entry that can be shared with every pupil in your class. To do this click on the Manage Class button on your My Class tile options area. Next select the appropriate local community from the drop down menu and put a tick next to all the pupils you wish to share your blog entry with. Click on Write Blogs to complete and share your entry. Pupils will be notified of your blog entry next time they login. Teacher-led learning logs: sharing a blog entry with the whole class

Parents can choose to receive notifications whenever an addition is made to their child’s blog. To do so, they need to use the following steps. Parents can choose to receive notifications whenever an addition is made to their child’s blog. To do so, they need to use the following steps. Step 1: Click on the Blog button to the left of the page: Step 2: Next click on start receiving notifications Step 3: When a new entry is made on the blog, the parent will now receive an to the they registered with for DB Primary. How parents can receive updates

A parent’s view of their children’s local communities Under the ‘My Communities’ section the parent can click on and view their children’s local communities. They will be notified every time something changes on their child’s local community.

A parental reporting community may be used as a place for teachers and parents to create a dialogue and/or report on the progress of a child. Parents/carers linked to the pupil will be added to this type of community. The pupil account will not be automatically added. As with learning logs, the blog and gallery tools will be enabled on this type of local community. A parental reporting community may be used as a place for teachers and parents to create a dialogue and/or report on the progress of a child. Parents/carers linked to the pupil will be added to this type of community. The pupil account will not be automatically added. As with learning logs, the blog and gallery tools will be enabled on this type of local community. Parental Reporting

If you would like to let the children create their own pages, you can create communities that they can take ownership of and update with text, images and video. Personal Wikis On the following pages you will find some examples of how local communities can be used by the pupils.

1. Create your own ‘School Website’ Ask the children to make their own versions of the school website. Ideas for Personal Wikis

2. Newspapers During the literacy topics of ‘Writing for different audiences’ or ‘Report Writing’ the children can produce (individually or in groups) their own newspaper. Use the newspaper skin for a realistic newspaper effect. During the literacy topics of ‘Writing for different audiences’ or ‘Report Writing’ the children can produce (individually or in groups) their own newspaper. Use the newspaper skin for a realistic newspaper effect. This project could also lead itself onto the creation of a ‘School Newspaper’.

3. Research Page Ask children to update a research page about their current topic.

If you would like any more information then please click on your ‘Need help?’ button on your homepage. Otherwise please contact our support team on: Telephone – – DB Primary Support Options