What is a Blog?

What is a blog?

Watch You Tube Videos about Blogs -
Blogs in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

What is a Blog? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWaSLE1CELc

Article on eSchool-News entitled: "Blogging Helps Encourage Teen Writing"

An Australian Educators Blog: "20 Reasons Why Students Should Blog"

Technology Applications TEKS and Blogging - How to EduBlog & Uses of Blogs in Education

Create a comment with 1 or 2 questions you have about blogging, or something you would like to know about blogging.

Blog Safety!

It is important to teach students to be aware of their safety when using the internet. Since blogs can be public or private, it's always a good idea to discuss the proper internet behavior to ensure their successful use and safety.

Remind students that what they write is on a "bill-board" for all to see. This will help them to be mindful that their words could cause a reaction from others. Discuss how students should deal with the reactions of others.

Remind students of the proper netiquette.

Here is a collection of Online Safety Resources for all levels of students, parents and teachers.

I recommend doing some reading in the following resources. Then take time to reflect personally or with your children (ALL AGES- Yes, high school, college and young adults too!) on just what would you do IF...

1. What would you do if someone asks you for personal information like phone numbers, last names, addresses, bank account information?

2. What would you do if someone asks you for a photo of yourself?

3. What would you do if someone asks to meet you publicly? or secretly?

For more of these conversation starter questions see the Web Wise Kids Internet Safety Plan
http://www.webwisekids.org/uploads/internet_safety_plan.pdf

It is also important that you review the guidelines of your school district's Acceptable Use Policy.
Here are some examples of AUP:
Pflugerville ISD AUP
Round Rock ISD AUP
Comal ISD AUP

It is best practice to use a parent permission slip or computer use contract in your classroom even if your school or school district does not require one.

The Purpose of Your Blog

View this slide show to review real blogs created for various purposes and audiences. These blogs can give you an idea of how your blog could be used.
http://www.willard.k12.mo.us/co/tech/videos/edublogs/blogs/blogs.html

Example of a class of students - each with individual blogs linked together
Blogical Minds

After viewing this slide show- think about how you will use your blog.
In 2-5 sentences, describe your vision for your blog? In the last sentence of your comment - state a goal you would like to achieve with your blog.
Some details to include could be:

• Who will use your blog?
  
• Will it be public or private? Why?
  
• What kind of content will you have on your blog?
• What do you want others to learn by reading or using your blog?
  

Blogging to Become Better Writers!

Can you understand this?

MOS

2G2B4G?

M4C?

Look here to find out more about Text Speak and Net Lingo... the language some teens use to communicate digitally.

We want students to improve their writing through blogging- clear expectations will facilitate their progress.

1. Utilize Marzano's High Yield Strategies in the tasks or "posts" you create for your students.
2. Provide sentence stems or model sentences for students to work from.

• Sentence Starters for Reader Response
• Example of an ESL Sentence Starter Activity
• Main Idea Sentence Starters
• Sentence Starters for Beginning Writers
• Question and Sentence Stems for Reflection on Learning
• Example of students responding to each others writing with a system
  

Utilize the best practices you use in the classroom- just take them from paper to a blog!

1. Choose a sentence stem to get you started, or create your own sentences reflecting on what you have learned or observed today in class. Please include a minimum of 2 sentences. Please use proper spelling, conventions and grammar.
Comments could include:
What kind of writing will you focus on with your blog?
A sample post you would ask your students to respond to

Fun Blog Tools!

Part of the appeal of blogging are the many tools you can use to personalize your blog and express yourself digitally! Check out these tools... just a few of many. Let me know what you think and share what you find.

Free blog backgrounds and layouts:
http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/
http://hotbliggityblog.com/

Picture Editing:

www.flickr.com

Gadgets:

http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open

Blog Book Makers:

www.blurb.com

Online Tutorials and Help:

Word Press

WordPress How To in PDF

EduBlogs

EduBlogs Manual

EduBlogs Getting Started Video
EduBlog Dash Board
Visitor's View

Choose Your Design

Your Avatar

Managing Sidebar Widgets

Add a Link to Blogroll

Write a Post

Adding Media: Images, Audio, Video, Documents

Inserting a Hyperlink

Inserting Embedding Code

Write a Page

Update your Profile and Change Your Password

Activitating Plugins

General Settings

Reading Settings

Discussion Options

Manage Users

Manage Your Blogroll

Manage Posts and Pages

Manage Media

Manage Tags and Categories

Manage Comments

Managing Sidebar Widgets

Creating an Additional Blog

Create a Monitored Blog for Each Student

Blogger

Blogger Tutorials

Leave a comment containing a link* to one of your favorite online tools that could be used in a blog. *Leave a link in your comment by copying and pasting the URL of the website you would like others to visit.

OR

Leave your feedback for this exploratory workshop.
Thanks for joining us today- Happy Blogging!