“Blogging and wikis are useful practice for the development of higher order learning skills, active, learner-centered pedagogy, authentic learning, associative thinking, and interactive learning communities” (O‘Donnell, 2006; Farmer, 2006).

BLOGS AS PD “Schools are hostile and inhospitable places for teacher learning….The few moments that we can steal for professional development are usually spent in sessions with experts pitching the latest silver bullet.” Bill Ferriter

Blogs act as fresh "portals through which new knowledge about teaching and learning can enter schools" (Elmore 2002).

“It is not about the technology; it’s about sharing knowledge and information, communicating efficiently, building learning communities and creating a culture of professionalism in schools. These are the key responsibilities of all educational leaders”. – Marion GinapolisMarion Ginapolis

The new Australian curriculum requires us to foster new literacies. It is not just a matter of transferring classroom writing into digital spaces. Blogging allows teachers to write for a public audience, to show how to cite and link and why, and how to use and comment on pedagogy. Blogging will enable us to teach students to critically engage media. Students need instruction on how to become efficient navigators in these digital spaces where they will be obtaining a majority of their information.

Why Teachers Should Blog: Grow communities of discourse and knowledge — a space where teachers can learn from each other. New perspective on the meaning of voice. Other professional voices are essential to the conversations we need to have about learning. Encourages global conversations about learning– conversations not previously possible in our classrooms. Records ongoing learning. It facilitates reflection and evaluation. Opportunity for collective and collaborative learning is enormous.

Why Students Should Blog: Opportunity to read their classmates’ blogs and those of others. Connecting with experts on the topic students are writing. The interactivity creates enthusiasm for writing and communication. Engages students in conversation and learning. Blogging provides the opportunity for our students to learn to write for life-long learning. Opportunity to learn about responsible public writing. Students can learn about the power of the published word and the responsibilities involved with public writing.

“ We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.” David Warlick

Slide 3 Teachers rarely get to self-select learning opportunities, pursue professional passions, or engage in meaningful, ongoing conversations about instruction….most of the programs we are exposed to are drawn directly from the latest craze sweeping the business world….A history of poor professional development experiences has left them jaded and stagnant, groaning when given "opportunities to learn."

Slide 4 In every content area and grade level and in schools of varying sizes and from different geographic locations, accomplished teachers are actively reflecting on instruction, challenging assumptions, questioning policies, offering advice, designing solutions, and learning together. And all this collective knowledge is readily available for free.

Slide 5 RSS Feeds (Rich Site Summary) Find several blogs that target educators in your stage level or content area and organize them with an aggregator of your choice. Dedicate a few minutes each day to browsing the changing content in your aggregator. Notice how new posts are added automatically. Make a commitment to reading two or three entries each week. Find topics that motivate you and challenge your thinking. Leave comments for the authors and see whether they respond. Engage other readers in conversations or friendly debate.