Pam Pam ThompsonThompson

My Blogging My Blogging journeyjourney

What is a blog?What is a blog?

►Put simply by the people at Put simply by the people at Commoncraft:Commoncraft:

Blogs in plain EnglishBlogs in plain English

So why blog?So why blog?

►Rachel Boyd, a teacher from Nelson, Rachel Boyd, a teacher from Nelson, NZ, sums it up in this videoNZ, sums it up in this video

Why let our students blog?Why let our students blog?

My intended audienceMy intended audience

Students from our classStudents from our class

Parents & family membersParents & family members

Colleagues at schoolColleagues at school

Actual audienceActual audience

►Students from our classStudents from our class►Students from other classesStudents from other classes►Students from other schoolsStudents from other schools►ColleaguesColleagues►Educators from around the globeEducators from around the globe►Parents – but probably not to the Parents – but probably not to the

extent I’d hopedextent I’d hoped

How do we use our blog?How do we use our blog?

►Sharing news & eventsSharing news & events►Sharing workSharing work►Accessing information, e.g. spelling lists, Accessing information, e.g. spelling lists,

homeworkhomework►Linking to other student/class blogsLinking to other student/class blogs►Links for projects via our del.icio.us siteLinks for projects via our del.icio.us site►Feedback on what’s happening at schoolFeedback on what’s happening at school

Benefits for studentsBenefits for students

Authentic audienceAuthentic audience

Familiar form of communicationFamiliar form of communication

Student voiceStudent voice

Multimedia capabilities – sharing of Multimedia capabilities – sharing of digital workdigital work

Global communication – via wiki set up Global communication – via wiki set up with school in Scotlandwith school in Scotland

Feedback from othersFeedback from others

Benefits for meBenefits for me

New skillsNew skills

Consider new ways of doing things, Consider new ways of doing things, e.g. podcastse.g. podcasts

Contact with other educators, both in Contact with other educators, both in Australia & overseasAustralia & overseas

Development of wiki with school in Development of wiki with school in ScotlandScotland

Why edublogs?Why edublogs?

►Not blocked in schools, unlike some Not blocked in schools, unlike some othersothers

►Easy to useEasy to use►Ability to moderate commentsAbility to moderate comments►Registering students at different levelsRegistering students at different levels►Ease of uploading files, media etcEase of uploading files, media etc►Edublogs forumEdublogs forum►The The edubloggeredublogger

Points for considerationPoints for consideration

Moderation of comments to avoid inappropriate Moderation of comments to avoid inappropriate contentcontent

Student anonymity & privacyStudent anonymity & privacy

Class blog with student posts or individual Class blog with student posts or individual blogs?blogs?

Blogging is about reading as well as writing – Blogging is about reading as well as writing – which blogs will you add to your blogroll?which blogs will you add to your blogroll?

Consider subscribing to a blog reader for Consider subscribing to a blog reader for updates on favourite blogs, e.g Google Readerupdates on favourite blogs, e.g Google Reader

Comments – relevant & appropriateComments – relevant & appropriate

Widgets for your blogWidgets for your blog

Clustermaps – see where your visitors are Clustermaps – see where your visitors are coming fromcoming fromWeatherpixie – widget showing weatherWeatherpixie – widget showing weatherWidgetbox – lots of widgets, e.g. clocks, gamesWidgetbox – lots of widgets, e.g. clocks, gamesCounters – how many visitors are you getting?Counters – how many visitors are you getting?Vokis – record a welcome message for your Vokis – record a welcome message for your visitorsvisitorsAvatars – use an avatar instead of a photo – Avatars – use an avatar instead of a photo – great for students to have identity but stay great for students to have identity but stay anonymousanonymousMore avatarsMore avatars