Presented by: Joe Mazzeo

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Using Kidsblog as a teaching tool

AGENDAWhy Kids’Blog?What else did I use?How I used it.Some of our topics.Sample of Kidsblog dashboard.Sample Discussion question.Student AssignmentWhy Students Like it?Why Students don’t like it?Lesson’s learned this year.Q & A

Why KidsblogKidsblog is a complete Software as a

Service(SaaS) blogging tool.Completely private! Only those who are setup

to join may join. Postings must be reviewed by instructor

before posting to community – helps to avoid problems

Easy to use, easy to setup and great technical support if needed.

Best of all ABSOLUTLY FREE!

What else I usedVideo clips from Digital Catechesis

Microsoft Skydrive

Email

How I used itVideos were downloaded from Digital

Catechesis and copied on to Skydrive. A link to the Skydive file would be sent to the

students the Sunday night before class with instructions of how to get to the blog.

I would put questions in to our weekly blog page and the students would start the discussions from there.Type the following link into your browser to view my video collection.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=1AE7EE4AE5451C09!246&authkey=!ANpdJpMjDbmsqtU

Some of our topicsTopics were Teen-Centric.

Right to Life and Capital PunishmentWhy do you want to make your Confirmation?How do you go to Confession?Respect for Women Dating

KIDSBLOG Dashboard

Sample Question from the Blog

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

AKA – Confession

As the season of Advent draws near we are going to take a look at what it takes to get ready for Christmas. No it’s not just decorating the tree or house and going to Christmas parties. It’s not shopping, although it’s where most of us will spend our time.

It’s about getting ready for the Christ child. It’s about getting ready to build of the Kingdom of God here on earth. Jesus didn’t come so we have a reason to spend money. Perhaps Charles Dickens caught it best in A Christmas Carol when Mr. Scrooge has this exchange with his nephew

“What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in ‘em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you”

Now it’s time to think about getting ready. Please watch the video’s and we will discuss this and more in class this weekend.

Next Step is for students to write their replies in the blogStudents write their replies and may include

photo’s, other supporting documents, or music.

Student replies are not included here to respect their privacy.

Why Students Like itIt gives them a chance to chat and discuss

issues that are important to them.It’s an easy way to do Religious Education

homework It’s fun to have a secret place to write – user

credentials make them feel it’s their private place

Why student don’t like itIt’s another screen and topic to manage

After going to school it means they open this blog and their IM, and their SKYPE and their photos and they get lost.

I know when they are not doing their homework!!!!

Lesson’s Learned this yearNot using a textbook, parent’s can’t follow

along.Students don’t want their parents to have

access to their credentials.I need to have patience with my class. The

fact that this is a virtual community they write when they are ready. Not when I ask for an assignment.

Lesson’s have to be carefully thought out. Topics may change based on responses to the blog.

Thank you

Q & A

Using Kidsblog as a teaching tool

Joe MazzeoEmail:Joseph.mazzeo@verizon.nethttp://www.slideshare.net/mazzejj/using-kidsblog-as-a-teaching-tool-19030994

Questions – Follow up