CLASSROOM BLOGGING BTL News 2009– 2010
J. Cauthers
MAHOPAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
What is a Blog??? Blog—short for web log • • • • • • • •
User-generated website Entries are made in journal style Displayed in a reverse chronological order Can be placed into categories for quick retrieval Blog owners invite others to respond to their blog posting Maintain control over blog site and subsequent postings Allows for display of pictures, video, audio and text Can be made public or private depending on site
Possible Uses •
Online discussions—enrichment, continuation of classroom discussion, controversial topics, literature circles, pen pals, extra credit
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Class newsletters—student or teacher created instead of a print version. Can be a summary of highlights for the week, up and coming events, communication with community and parents.
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Gallery of work—show off student artwork, writing, articles and more and allow others to comment and post ideas
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Tips and tricks sharing—concept maps, outlines, flow charts, mnemonics to remember, online flash cards, study tips, and more.
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Photos, videos, audio—virtual field trips, photos from class trip, famous people and places, student created videos from trips, experiment data sharing, plays and more
Blogging Contracts •
Need to set ground rules for ethical posting and format of writing— formal, informal, no slang, no threats, no IM talk, etc.
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Omit personal information, pictures of students, etc.
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Sign a contract so guidelines are clearly understood
BTL News—Using Blogs in the Classroom 2009 –2010 J. Cauthers
Using Blogs in Science •
Current events—students find their own from list and post based on the current topic or posted by the teacher
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Videos and animations for the unit—students interpret or comment—possibly find their own to better explain
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Writing prompts—current events, application of concepts, reading comprehension
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Experimental data—sharing, comment, critique, explain results to draw conclusions
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This day in history or famous scientist
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Field trip blogs—record of events or even a virtual visit to a significant place ex. Local wetland, museum of science exhibit, nature center, etc.
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Group projects—project feederwatch, birdwatch results, animal sightings, etc.
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Student designed concept maps or vocabulary memory games, mnemonics
Using Blogs in Math •
Student chosen to explain a solution to a problem from the homework—class comments, fixes, etc.
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Extra credit problems, brain teasers—students post possible solutions
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Real life applications—examples from current unit
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HW help center - student driven peer tutoring
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Test tricks and study tips—student designed concept maps, vocabulary memory games, mnemonics, etc.
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Famous mathematicians—students or teacher can post, Who am I challenge?
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Relationship to art and geography—architecture, art, local structures— mountains
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Field trips—blogs, videos, pictures, etc. from field trips and local math sites
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Concept maps, flow charts or mnemonics– student or teacher designed memory devices
BTL News—Using Blogs in the Classroom 2009 –2010 J. Cauthers
Using Blogs in Social Studies • • • • •
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Current Events—student or teacher driven—find 5 headlines about a topic On this day/month - historical events—teacher or student posted or teacher can post hints and students try to solve it Videos/speeches—videos, pictures, or audio —speeches, battles, historical places, etc. Pictures - who knows where or what this is? Challenge… or student posted pictures from family vacations to historical locations Cartoons or satires—old regents questions or current ones from newspaper. Students can blog about what the meaning is and even can find their own about a particular topic Student written op ed articles, newsletters Letter to government officials—lobbying for a particular cause Famous people in history - can be a mystery that students solve, comment on scene Concept maps, mnemonics, etc.—easy ways to remember important events Role playing - students write from point of view of a character
Using Blogs in Foreign Language •
Writing prompts—pictures, starting phrases, memoirs, famous writers, speeches
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Ad and brochures—prompt to have students explain what it is about
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“Pen pals” - students in class, overseas, other school
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Creative way to present—student driven—fun way to remember certain topics, words, concept maps, etc.
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Peer review of writing—article, essay
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Dialogue topics—student or teacher driven—give the topic and have them discuss—can be controversial or just give a situation to discuss.
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Pictures, video, audio—student or teacher posted of places visited, who or where am I challenge, who said…
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Foreign music exchange
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Foreign movie, plany or book reviews—teacher or student
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Virtual field trips or field trip blogs—student or teacher posted for a virtual trip to a particular location
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Foreign restaurant reviews—menu options and critic review
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Role playing - students write from point of view of a character
BTL News—Using Blogs in the Classroom 2009 –2010 J. Cauthers
Using Blogs in the Arts •
Gallery or music archive—peer review, presentations, slideshows
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Artist or film of the week—student or teacher chosen
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Challenges—who wrote, who said, who painted, who sang these lyrics...visual or audio
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Project prompts—situations for theatre and music, artist biography, pictures, lyrics, etc.
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Ads and magazine spreads—reviews, student created, who can make it better?
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Local hot spots for art - student or teacher post Online “magazine” - student created newsletters or magazines for topics of interest Famous artists—Who Am I challenge, unknown artists, local artist who is on the rise or focus on local artists Online showcase—show case of all events in the school
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Using Blogs in English •
Writing prompts—pictures, starting phrases, memoirs, famous writers, speeches
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“Pen pals” - students in class, overseas, other school
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Creative writing, short stories, poems—student driven
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Peer review of writing—article, essay
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Dialogue topics—student or teacher driven—give the topic and have them discuss—can be controversial or just give a situation to discuss.
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Pictures, video, audio—student or teacher posted of places visited, who or where am I challenge, who said…
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Favorite book exchange
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Movie, play or book reviews—teacher or student
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Virtual field trips or field trip blogs—student or teacher posted for a virtual trip to a particular location
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Journal entries—evolves throughout the year
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Student portfolio—digital portfolio of all of their work— students can easily categorize their work to easily locate various assignments
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Online newspaper—student run—can create categories for different sections