Why & How to Use a Blog in the Classroom
Small Group Discussion “What is a Blog”
Web + Log Blog, It’s a kind of Diary,
A place to put your thoughts, experiences, ides, reflections etc It’s about you
& your class.
“A blog is a website that is regularly
updated; it’s informal and run by an individual or small group”
Show the Blogs below: Open discussion -
How have they been used?
Watch clip, then discuss in groups “Why use a Blog in the Classroom”
1, A place to write, read, &
interact with each other.
2, “Real” Learning
3, Engage in Conversations
4, Encourage modern learning in the
class
5, Digital Citizenship (Good behaviour on line. Internet Safety. Digital footprint. (No paper).
6, Assessing Sts progress through posts.
Look back at older posts to compare
7, Connecting Locally (classmates, family, community) Globally connecting to classes all over the world
Show my blog & go through it.
What teachers like about Class Blogs
Write on the board the 1st heading
“Classroom Management”, in groups why can a Blog be good for that, Sts come up
with answers & then I add to it from below. Do all 5 likewise.
1. Classroom
Management
Easy to create and update.
Easy to create and update.
Great
to inform students, parents & other teachers, what you’ve done, what you’re
doing & what you are going to do.
Post
handouts, notices, and homework.
2.
Collaboration, working together
Students can work together in or out
of the classroom.
Online
“mentoring” possible -
A class of older students can help a
class of younger students develop writing skills.
Projects require
teamwork for research, ideas, feedback etc
3.
Discussions
A class blog encourages students to discuss topics outside of the classroom.
A class blog encourages students to discuss topics outside of the classroom.
Students can share their thoughts,
while also making comments on their classmates comments.
4. Students
Progress
Blogs are organised by date, which enables you to track student’s progress form the beginning of term to the end.
Blogs are organised by date, which enables you to track student’s progress form the beginning of term to the end.
5. Student motivation
They
are highly motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not participate
in the classroom.
How to Create a Blog Using Blogger
Show students my blog & take them though it giving a general idea.
Point out features. Left all posts most recent first, right side
blog archive, heading & pages, home, out & about, lots of imagination
etc. Background photo, my profile photo, bottom photo; videos, photos posted
etc
Now hands on for Sts, “In Pairs or Three’s”: Sts open
blogger account via Gmail
Left click on Blogger logo of my Blog to enter dashboard &
begin demo step by step how to set up a Blogger Blog.
Firstly lets look at the Bogger Help Page that gets you started,
showing the different components of the blog.
Blogger
Getting Started Guide this isn’t a video
Go through the blogger” getting started
guide” using my own Blog Dashboard to show where the tools, Overview, Write a
post, Add Image, Add a video, Customise, Settings & Privacy.
With the link below follow “How to set
up a Blog on Blogger” I go through with sts in pairs.
Sts have a look at this link below,
starting at 0.58 seconds, as the beginning isn’t relevant.
Check sts & help with the basic
setting up of their Blogs. Going over how to make a post, adding photos, videos
& how to use the tools i.e. text size, Internet link, preview, publish
buttons etc.
This clip is will enable you to post a link
to your navigation bar on the blog.
Very useful & well explained.
Lets have a look at some school/class blogs
In Pairs look at each site what do you
like & not like, what could be good for you
Tips for
Bloggers
1 Try to keep your blog up to date
2 Don’t do all the blogging, let your
students do it too
3 Use photos & videos t complement the
text
4 Do a video book review
5 A video of your class art class
6 Show each other “how to do something” tie
a knot, bake a cake, mix paints to get different colours
7 Keep an eye on other Blogs in your field
to see what they’re doing
8 List fun activities happening in the community
9 Post study tips from different teachers
at school
10 Review educational apps
11 Use “List style” posts; “Top 10 reasons
to go to chess club” or “5 tips to getting your work in on time” or “8 things
you didn’t know about The Weather” etc
12 Reminders & Announcements are quick
& easy on a blog
Check on Internet for new ideas & tips
for Bloggers.
Some Other Free Blog Sites
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