Using Blogs to Promote Science Literacy

Using BlogsBlogs to Promote Science Literacy

Stacy BakerNovember 21, 2008NSTA Portland Conference

sbaker@calvertonschool.org

WelcomeWelcome!

Presentation Outline

What is a Blog?Why Blog?Goals of a BlogSmall GroupsShareSet up of a BlogHand out Packet

What is a Blog?

Parts of a Blog

Video

Why Blogs?

I love how the blog has connected us so much more to each other.

-9th Grade Student

Thank you for going the extra mile with your students. Your blog demonstrates the creativity and synthesis of ideas that is a model for the entire faculty.

-Principal

I have been so impressed with the project and more importantly the attitude my daughter has developed toward science, writing, research, and communication.

-Parent

What Do Students Like About Blogs?Video

Whatarethe Goalsofa

Blog?

Improve science literacy:

Americans Get F in Science Literacy

Student work will be read by thousands of people, both their peers and experts in the field:

Sitemeter

Discuss topics students care about with their peers and experts: Atlanta Water Crisis

Discuss labs and other class assignments:

Substance X Lab

Interact and discuss topics with practicing scientists:

Explore Other Blogs

Scientist Interviews

Teach students how to evaluate internet sources:

Credible Sources

Exciting opportunities will develop!

Small Group Discussion

1. What would you like your students to blog about?

2. What things do you do now that you could replace with a blog?

3. What roadblocks might you encounter that would prevent you from blogging with your students?

4. What are some ways you could get around those roadblocks?

Blog SafetyRules for Students●Use first names only or pseudonyms●Do not identify your location●Remember that nothing can be erased in cyberspace

Rules for Teachers●Turn on comment moderation●Turn on anti-spam filter●Do not publish pictures with the school name or logo●Do not publish names alongside pictures

Parent Consent Form

Comment Writing

Did you:

* Add new information that is related to the post? * Insert a link to the website where you found the information? * Check to make sure your comment does not contain the same information as someone else's comment?

Post Writing

Did you:

* Make sure the topic you want to write about is biology-related? * Check that all of your sources are credible before writing your post? * Hyperlink your sources? * Include a creative commons or public domain image? * Include 2-3 science-based (not opinion-based) questions in your post? * Compare your post to published posts to make sure the format is correct?

Extreme Biology Blog Tutorials

http://creativecommons.org/

Use theAdvanced Search!

Getting Started with Edublogs

Thousands of ExamplesSupport Blogging! Links

Please join on the conversation at the NSTA Conference Blog or on my teacher blog!

SourcesSlide #1 Photo : Turtblu, www.flickr.com/photos/turtblu/4941648442 Photo: Monkeyc.net, www.flickr.com/photos/monkeyc/3226548183 Photo: -bast-, www.flickr.com/photos/-bast-/349497988 Video: “Blogs in Plain English” Common Craft Show by Lee Lefever, www.commoncraft.com/show4 Document: www.missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog5 Photo: created using www.picnik.com and www.wordle.net6 Photo: Stabilo Boss, www.flickr.com/photos/stabilo-boss/93136022 Photo: National Science Board, 2006. Science and Engineering Indicators.7 Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/2007/09/178 Photo: www.clustrmaps.com Document: www.sitemeter.com9 Drought Photo: Fadder_Uri, www.flickr.com/fadderuri/1450938449 Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2007/10/0710 Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2008/10/29/11 Photo: David Kroll, www.jomc.unc.edu Brian Switek, www.scienceblogs.com/laelaps Erica Tsai, www.duke.edu/~yet2/ Eric Roston, www.ericroston.comDocument: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2008/09/29Document: http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/category/science-online-09

12 Screenshot: www.dhmo.org 13 Photo: Turtblu, www.flickr.com/photos/turtblu/494164844 Laura Porter, http://scienceblogs.com/digitalbio Bora Zivkovic, http://scienceblogs.com/clock Science Online '09, www.scienceonline09.com15 Document: Parent Consent Form, http://beyond-school.org/2007/11/0917 Comic: created using www.bitstrips.com18 Photo: www.creativecommons.se/images/highquality.jpg19 Screenshot: www.flickr.com Photo: Bensonkua, www.flickr.com/photos/bensonkua/2127756905 Photo: Onkel_wart, www.flickr.com/photos/onkel_wart/2258366486 Photo: law_keven, www.flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00/157532511020 Screenshot: http://edublogs.org21 Screenshot: www.classroom20.com Document: http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers22 Screenshot: http://blogs.nsta.org/ConferenceBlog/default.aspx http://blogging4biology.edublogs.org