Online Collaboration: Blogging
Intended Audience: Social Studies and Language Arts teachers
- All sites can be password protected
- Customization: Teachers can create different pages for different classes
- Lots of fun templates
- Various levels of teacher control depending on how comfortable students are with blogging
- Students interact with each other in a safe, online format
First Step: Signing Up and Creating Your Class
Signing up is very easy. Teachers can use a Google account or sign up manually using a school email address.
If you want all your classes to respond to the same blog, you only need to create one class with all your students.
(Example: Ms. Thiers's 7th Grade LA)
If you want different blogs for each of your classes, you will have the option to create separate classes once you are logged in. Under the Dashboard, click on "My Classes", then click on "Create New Class". You can decide how many classes you want/need.
(Example: 1st Period, 2nd Period, 3rd Period, and 4th Period)
Tip:
Create one blog for all your students first. You can use this blog to pose questions that relate to content, curriculum, or assignments. Then create class-specific blogs for issues related to certain periods. You can click and drag the students from your whole class blog into the class-specific blogs.
Second Step: Adding Your Students
You have 3 options for adding your students:
1. Adding each student individually
2. Bulk adding your students from a .csv file.
3. Allowing students to sign up themselves by using a Kidblog-generated code.
Since most of us have at least 100 students, option 2 is the best choice. Directions for how to create a .csv file are located on the Kidblog website under "Bulk-Create Users". I am also including the directions here.
Tip:
If you have students with the same name, use their first name and first initial of the last name. (Example: ErinP and ErinS). The login name you create will be the students' only identifier, so it is important that there not be any overlap, even if you are creating separate blogs for your different class periods.
Third Step: Determining Your Settings
Start off with more control at the beginning of the year. You can always loosen the reins later in the year. I like to begin the year by being the only one able to post. Students can comment on my posts, but can't create their own. All comments must be approved. As the year progresses, and they become more comfortable with the platform of blogging, I allow them to post on their own and comment on each other's posts.
Final Step: Write Your First Post!
Your first post should be a welcome post to your students. You should explain the purpose of the blog and communicate what your expectations are for them while using Kidblog. You might want to go over appropriate ways to respond and comment on their classmates' posts. Some people link a grade to blog use. If this is what you would like to do, you should show them a rubric at the beginning of usage.
Tip:
On the day of your first post, you will need to hand out the login and password you created for your students. (This is if you chose option #1 or 2 from Step Two. If you selected option #3, you can skip this step). Also, you will want to walk your classes through the steps for logging in, reading your post, and commenting. Don't assume your students will know how to do this. It can be done by projecting your computer onto the screen.
Lesson Plan Ideas:
In the comments section below, share with others how you foresee using blogging in your classroom!
Essential Questions: How can I use blogging in my existing lesson plans?
What standards will blogging meet?
What can my students learn from blogging?
How can blogging be differentiated to meet the needs of
my special ed and gifted students?
my special ed and gifted students?
Topics:
* Sample site: Kidblog
* Lesson plan ideas for use
- Easy to set up
Intro to Kidblog
Kidblog is a free site for K-12 teachers to use with their students. Students do not need to use an email address or password. Teachers create user names and passwords for their students.
Benefits of Kidblog:
- Free
- All sites can be password protected
- Customization: Teachers can create different pages for different classes
- Lots of fun templates
- Various levels of teacher control depending on how comfortable students are with blogging
- Students interact with each other in a safe, online format
First Step: Signing Up and Creating Your Class
Signing up is very easy. Teachers can use a Google account or sign up manually using a school email address.
If you want all your classes to respond to the same blog, you only need to create one class with all your students.
(Example: Ms. Thiers's 7th Grade LA)
If you want different blogs for each of your classes, you will have the option to create separate classes once you are logged in. Under the Dashboard, click on "My Classes", then click on "Create New Class". You can decide how many classes you want/need.
(Example: 1st Period, 2nd Period, 3rd Period, and 4th Period)
Tip:
Create one blog for all your students first. You can use this blog to pose questions that relate to content, curriculum, or assignments. Then create class-specific blogs for issues related to certain periods. You can click and drag the students from your whole class blog into the class-specific blogs.
Second Step: Adding Your Students
1. Adding each student individually
2. Bulk adding your students from a .csv file.
3. Allowing students to sign up themselves by using a Kidblog-generated code.
Since most of us have at least 100 students, option 2 is the best choice. Directions for how to create a .csv file are located on the Kidblog website under "Bulk-Create Users". I am also including the directions here.
If you have students with the same name, use their first name and first initial of the last name. (Example: ErinP and ErinS). The login name you create will be the students' only identifier, so it is important that there not be any overlap, even if you are creating separate blogs for your different class periods.
Third Step: Determining Your Settings
Settings Include:
- Timezone
- Mobile access (there is a Kidblog app, so this asks if your students can use the app to access to your blog)
- Themes (template design for your blog)
- Moderation of comments and blogs. It is best to approve everything until you know your students better. Be sure to discuss with your AP if you are thinking of changing the settings on what needs to be approved.
- User roles. It is best to keep your students in the student role and do not give them moderator privileges.
Start off with more control at the beginning of the year. You can always loosen the reins later in the year. I like to begin the year by being the only one able to post. Students can comment on my posts, but can't create their own. All comments must be approved. As the year progresses, and they become more comfortable with the platform of blogging, I allow them to post on their own and comment on each other's posts.
Final Step: Write Your First Post!
Tip:
On the day of your first post, you will need to hand out the login and password you created for your students. (This is if you chose option #1 or 2 from Step Two. If you selected option #3, you can skip this step). Also, you will want to walk your classes through the steps for logging in, reading your post, and commenting. Don't assume your students will know how to do this. It can be done by projecting your computer onto the screen.
Lesson Plan Ideas:
Language Arts
• Create book reviews
• Post podcasts
• Continue a class discussion on a specific topic
• Research an author
• List book recommendations
• Grammar practice
• Writing extension- prompts, brainstorms, sharing drafts, peer editing
Social Studies
• Research famous historical figure, country, government, or current event
• Write diary entries from a certain time periods
• Compare/contrast regions being studied
• Interview a family member about a certain time period and add evidence and details
from text.
• Respond to map-based or passage-based questions
Standards Met
American Association of School Librarians Standards for the 21st Century Learner:
Learners use skills, resources, and tools to:
1.1.6: Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.
1.1.8 Demonstrate mastery of technology tools for accessing information and pursuing inquiry.
1.1.9 Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding.
1.3.4 Contribute to the exchange of ideas within the learning community.
1.3.5 Use information technology responsibly.
2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to analyze and organize information.
2.1.5 Collaborate with others to exchange ideas, develop new understandings, make decisions, and solve problems.
2.1.6 Use the writing process, media and visual literacy, and technology skills to create products that express new understandings.
2.3.1 Connect understanding to the real world.
3.1.2 Participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual network of learners.
3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and assess.
3.2.2 Show social responsibility by participating actively with others in learning situations and by contributing questions and ideas during group discussions.
3.3.2 Respect the differing interests and experiences of others, and seek a variety of viewpoints.
3.3.3 Use knowledge and information skills and dispositions to engage in public conversation and debate around issues of common concern.
3.3.5 Contribute to the exchange of ideas within and beyond the learning community.
4.1.7 Use social networks and information tools to gather and share information.
4.2.3 Maintain openness to new ideas by considering divergent opinions, changing opinions or conclusions when evidence supports the change, and seeking information about new ideas encountered through academic or personal experiences.
4.3.1 Participate in the social exchange of ideas, both electronically and in person.
4.3.4 Practice safe and ethical behaviors in personal electronic communication and interaction.
ISTE National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Students
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
c. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
d. exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.In the comments section below, share with others how you foresee using blogging in your classroom!
No comments:
Post a Comment