Blogs & Blogging

Why Blog with Students?

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 08:56 | Written by Ben Anderson |

Why Blog with Students?

redquestionmark1 This is a question often asked by teachers when blogging with students is suggested. I asked it myself many years ago when the topic was first brought up to me in an education technology class I had to take to clear my teaching credential. I think what I actually thought was more like, “why on earth would I want to do that?” This was in 2005 or 2006. Now, I blog with students, but how did this change happen? What understanding did I come to that helped this make sense to me? Two things; how it helps students by giving them audience and feedback, and how to keep enough control so that it was a safe environment.

Last Updated (Thursday, 01 October 2009 13:16)

Blogs & Blogging

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 08:06 | Written by Ben Anderson |

A blog (a contraction of the term weblog) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

From Wikipedia

Last Updated (Wednesday, 02 September 2009 08:32)

Blogging in the Classroom

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 14:53 | Written by Ben Anderson |

Blogging in the Classroom

This guide is designed to support your use of blogs in the classroom and for community outreach. If you are new to blogs, please consider starting at the beginning and working your way through. You may also jump to a section or resource at any time. In order to experience all activities, you will need Acrobat Reader and Adobe Flash Player and internal or external speakers. A recording of a 2-hour online class on Blogging in the Classroom is also available by clicking here.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 02 September 2009 08:56)

How to Blog with Students

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 08:53 | Written by Ben Anderson |

That first step can be daunting. What's around the corner? How far down is that first step
really? What on earth have I signed up for? So, take a deep breathe, and keep reading to find out how to prepare for this big first step.

The Plan

Manners Please!

Just like your first day teaching (and the first day/week of subsequent years) you will need a plan. You need to write guidelines or rules for how students should "behave" online, and have lessons to explicitly teach them what your expectation are. To the degree possible, you should embed terms, and procedures from your regular classroom management. Never assume that they will know better, or that because they've been online, they understand, or because they worked on computers with another teacher, they were taught. Even if it's been covered, your better off re-covering the territory than skipping a lesson they may have missed. I liked to discuss it in terms in manners, and respect for each other. Browse the Cyber Safety section for more resources on preparing students to be online.

Last Updated (Thursday, 01 October 2009 13:16)