1. Student Blogging in the Classroom
Justin Hoering & Christopher Baut
Fort Wayne Community Schools

2. Why should students blog?
Blogging empower students to…
Engage with an authentic audience
Participate in real world collaboration and feedback
Practice digital citizenship
Personalize their own learning environment
Track their growth throughout the year
Chris – reference research/data to support why student blogging is an effective approach to writing and collaborating in the classroom.
SRI Data: BOY Test = 55% Proficient/Advanced EOY Test = 64% Proficient/Advanced
“Blogging can improve students’ writing skills and build their confidence as writers. By blogging,
students can take ownership of their writing, become better observers of others’ writing, and
develop a more immediate and powerful understanding of audience.”
“Students are used to writing and communicating in the digital landscape whether it be Twitter, FaceBook, Tumblr, or . While reading their fellow students’ blogs and comments, and responding online with their own comments, students recognize the value of clarity and what makes for strong and engaging posts.”
Gayle Morris University of Michigan
// MrHoering.Edublogs.org //

3. What does it look like? In my classroom…
All student blogs are hosted and safely monitored through my teacher blog
Students customize their own websites
Digital citizenship skills are modeled and practiced
Students publish their final drafts
Students engage with a global community
Justin – Explain how to set up and facilitate a safe, relevant, and educational digital learning environment.
Nothing can be published (posts or comments) without my permission
I teach students how to create a website that reflects their interests
I model digital citizenship through my own blog and provide students with opportunities to practice these skills
Only final drafts are published to reflect the end product of the writing process
The SBC allows students to engage with other students around the world. Students are also paired up with a writing mentor from another country.
Go to internet
show what teacher blog looks like (MrHoering.edublogs.org)
Show examples of student blogs
Design:
Community Comments:
Global engagement:
115 classes
1300 students
15 countries
32 mentors
Explain dashboard – website maintenance and moderation of student blogs
// MrHoering.Edublogs.org //

4. Resources/Student Examples
Mr. Hoering’s Classroom Blog
Online Book Club Community
Personalized Learning Environment
Community Engagement
Global Collaboration
Justin – Explain how to set up and facilitate a safe, relevant, and educational digital learning environment.
Nothing can be published (posts or comments) without my permission
I teach students how to create a website that reflects their interests
I model digital citizenship through my own blog and provide students with opportunities to practice these skills
Only final drafts are published to reflect the end product of the writing process
The SBC allows students to engage with other students around the world. Students are also paired up with a writing mentor from another country.
Go to internet
show what teacher blog looks like (MrHoering.edublogs.org)
Show examples of student blogs
Design:
Community Comments:
Global engagement:
115 classes
1300 students
15 countries
32 mentors
Explain dashboard – website maintenance and moderation of student blogs
// MrHoering.Edublogs.org //

5. Activity Visit mrhoering.edublogs.org
Leave a comment on the top post explaining how you could incorporate student blogs in your classroom.
Feel free to ask questions and respond to other participants’ comments!
Refer back to this post when you start creating your student blogs!
Chris – reference research/data to support why student blogging is an effective approach to writing and collaborating in the classroom.
SRI Data: BOY Test = 55% Proficient/Advanced EOY Test = 64% Proficient/Advanced
“Blogging can improve students’ writing skills and build their confidence as writers. By blogging,
students can take ownership of their writing, become better observers of others’ writing, and
develop a more immediate and powerful understanding of audience.”
“Students are used to writing and communicating in the digital landscape whether it be Twitter, FaceBook, Tumblr, or . While reading their fellow students’ blogs and comments, and responding online with their own comments, students recognize the value of clarity and what makes for strong and engaging posts.”
Gayle Morris University of Michigan
// MrHoering.Edublogs.org //

6. Professional Learning Hours Professional Learning Code:
Session Evaluation
Let us know what you thought of this session. Complete an evaluation electronically on the conference app, or complete the paper evaluation located in the program book.
Professional Learning Hours
Earn professional learning contact hours to maintain your teaching certification. Write down the code for every session you attend on the card located in the program book.
Professional Learning Code:
XX-XX