Week 1: Blogs

June 11-June 17

1. Definition of a Blog:

Wikipedia Definition: A blog (an abridgment of the term web log) is a 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.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs.

Review the following resources:

• PBS Teachers on Blogs – by Andy Carvin Internet activist, author, Edtech expert
• Blogs in Plain English Video Created by “leelefever” on TeacherTube
  [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI[/youtube]
• 6 & 7 Year Olds Define Blogs– A TeacherTube video titled, “What’s a Blog, Described by 6 & 7 Year Olds”. Students from Nelson, New Zealand educate you about what they think a blog is, how they use them and what they love about them.
  [flashvideo width="425" height="350" filename="http://www.teachertube.com/flvideo/1908.flv" /]

2. Reasons to have a Blog:

A blog is a web page that’s easy to publish and interactive way to communicate. It can be a reflective practice for the author and readers. It’s an accessible way to share ideas, explore them and take part in a larger community. It allows others to add input to the blog in a discussion or comment form. As you think about your reasons for having a blog, decide on your audience. Are you a classroom teacher trying to reach your parents? Are you an administrator wanting more collaborative communication with your staff? Are you planning to build a blog for your students to contribute to and interact with each other? In essence, the reason for having a blog is communication. In the words of James Humes, “The art of communication is the language of leadership.”

• Why Should Teachers Blog?by Chris Lehmann Principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, PA
• Why Every Teacher Should Blog by Darren Draper, Technology Specialist Sandy, UT

3. Examples of Blogs in Education

http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers#toc5-A wiki that contains links to multiple educational blogs. Categories include: Teacher blogs, Administrator blogs, Principal blogs, Librarian blogs and more.

• Elementary Examples
  · http://jhh.blogs.com/webwriters/ Fifth Grade Web Writers
  · Mrs. Wagner’s Class- Eva Wagner’s blog for her Kindergarten Class
  · http://mmiller7571.edublogs.org/ – Willard East Elementary Blog
  · http://mrsolm.blogspot.com/ Fifth Grade Blog, AZ
• Secondary Examples:
  · http://ridgeviewms.org/podcasts/ – Ridgeview Middle School initiative for podcasting
  · http://www.dawnsbrain.com/ High School Web and Graphic Design teacher
  · Durff’s Study Skills Blog A blog for 7th grade Study Skills students in Maryland
• Administrative Examples
  · http://naesp.typepad.com/ ThePrincipals’ Office, NAESP’s blog that connects principals with their colleagues
  · http://almostmonday.blogspot.com/- Almost Monday from Puyallup School District, WA
  · http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/ -Greg Carroll, Principal in New Zealand
  · http://principalblogs.typepad.com/lindaperdaems/ The Woodland Elementary Blog, Linda Perdaems, MN
  · http://mr-ps-blog.blogspot.com/ Leadership Blog from an Elementary Principal, AZ
  · Mrs. Marshall’s Counselors blog – A counselors Blog.
• Technology Specialists Examples
  · http://techhintz.edublogs.org/ – Technology Hints by Hintz
  · http://www.robinstechtips.com/ – information on technology integration at the secondary level
  · http://karrieweb2004.edublogs.org/ – Tech Journey–Pond Springs and Forest North
  · Round Rock Tech Guy – Caraway and Laurel Mountain
  · http://edublog.sedck12.org/- Technology Training and Integration (non RRISD)

4. Assignment:

• 1) Read through the Class Blog at http://rrisdtime2learn.org/introweb20
• 2) Blog Research: Look through the definition of blogs, and the sample blogs listed
  • a) Identify 2 blogs and comment on the purpose of them in your own blog
• 3) Create Your Own Personal Learning Blog -Edublog or Blogger where you:
  • a) Name your blog. Remember the whole web world can see your blog title and address.
    Choose the blog host.
    • i) Edublogs: Go to http://edublogs.org/The format is name.edublogs.org.
    • ii) Blogger: Go to https://www.blogger.com/ The format is name.blogger.co
    • iii) Note: There are no www in the address of either Edublogs or Blogger. Please remember your URL address, bookmark it, or keep a notebook or document with your URLs, passwords, and special notes.
  • b) Select your template. Blogger and Edublogs have several templates – have fun choosing one that fits you and the purpose of your blog. If you run into problems, check out Blogger’s Help file and Tutorial. You can change your template later if you wish. Remember that this is “discovery learning” and that you are learning as you are exploring With each problem, then solution you find, you are becoming more tech savvy!
  • c) Content:
    • i) Introduce yourself with personal info and your professional jobii) Include what you hope to learn from this course.
    • iii) Identify the purpose of your blog in a post
    • iv) Upload and insert a picture of yourself or something that represents your blog.
    • v) Post a few posts on your own blog
    • vi) Identify 2 blogs and comment on the purpose of them in your own blog
    • vii) Optional: Create an avatar — a representation of yourself. Either at http://www.voki.com/ or http://avatars.yahoo.com/ design an avatar. Save your avatar and export to your blog.

HINT: Here’s how to export your avatar to your blog from Yahoo. When you are on your Avatars.Yahoo.com page, go to “home” tab and look to the right column. One of the options is:
“EXPORT: Use your avatar in web pages and blogs and more.” Click there. Then, in the Center of the page, 0ne option is your avatar’s HTML code. Copy the code, go to your blog (Sign in. When you first sign in, there is an option to add a post OR manage posts, settings, or layout; Go to “LAYOUT.” You will see various page elements.) Paste (Control V) the HTML code in the PAGE ELEMENT marked “HTML/Java Script.” Then move that PAGE ELEMENT to wherever you want your avatar to appear on your blog.] Each blog application: blogger, wordpress, edublog, typepad, and so on has a unique method of exporting avatars and other images onto your pages. Be sure to use the ‘help’ menu within your application to work your way through any problems you run into.

• 4) Comment back on the Class Blog with your blog link under this posting. We will move all class blog addresses to a central location on the site.
• 5) Read the other blogs from the class – Next week – we will comment on each other’s Blogs (feel free to comment on some now if you have time)
• 6) Complete the Reflection Questions as a post on your blog (see Question at the bottom of the page)

5. Software/hardware used in this Module:

• Choose Edublog, http://edublogs.org/ or Blogger, https://www.blogger.com/
  • Edublog Tutorial Video- Video on Creating an edublog account by Mark Wooley posted on TeacherTube
  • Upload Images to Edublog Tutorial Video- Video on how to upload photos into Edublog by ontanstaff posted on TeacherTube
  • Blogger Tutorial Video- Video on Creating Blogger account and Blog. It was developed by Dr. Christy Keeler as part of her “Survey of Computers in Schools” course posted on TeacherTube.

6. Resources to Complete Assignments (Guides & Tutorials):

• Edublog Tutorial Video- Video on Creating an edublog account by Mark Wooley posted on TeacherTube
• Upload Images to Edublog Tutorial Video- Video on how qto upload photos into Edublog by ontanstaff posted on TeacherTube
• Blogger Tutorial Video- Video on Creating Blogger account and Blog. It was developed by Dr. Christy Keeler as part of her “Survey of Computers in Schools” course posted on TeacherTube.

7. Supplemental Reading:

a. PDF File Strategies for Educational Blogging by Dr. Soo Wai Man, Temasek Polytechnic. Very insightful.
b. http://supportblogging.com/ – a wiki that lists hundreds of edublogs, teacher blogs and student blogs.
c. http://anne.teachesme.com/about/ Edublog Insights. A blog by Anne Davis, Georgia State University. Lots of reflective thinking, links to educational blogs and ideas on blog use. In her words, “This EduBlog is a place to reflect, discuss, and explore possibilities for the use of weblogs in education.”

8. Reflection Questions

Create a post on your blog titled “Week 1 Reflection” and answer the following:

1. What did you learn?
2. How will you use what you have learned?
3. How did you feel about this tool?
4. What do you not want to forget about this tool?
5. How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
6. Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
7. What questions do you still have about this tool?