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Blogging Reasons:Why should I blog?

Suzanne Porath

LitProfSuz@gmail.comTwitter: @LitProfSuz

http://heartofateacher.blogspot.com/

Doctoral Candidate UW -Madison6th Grade Humanities

Madison Country Day School

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What's your experience?

Poll: What is your experience with blogs?

A) What's a blog? (None)

B) I know what they are, but don't use.

C) I've read a few.

D) I'm a blogger.

E) I use them with my students.

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Purpose of this presentation

Convince you that blogs are useful teaching and learning tools

Provide examples and resources for blogging both personal and professional

NOT – to teach you how to blog

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Why should I blog?Reflection

Shows growth and change over time

Broader audience

Extends communication

Multimedia

Expands the classroom

Intentional internet identity

Professional Learning Network (PLN)

Fun

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Space for Reflection“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First,

by reflection which is the noblest; Second by imitation which is the easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” ~Confucius

“Reflection is an important human activity in which people recapture their experience, think about it, mull over and evaluate it. It is this working with experience that is important in learning” (Boud, Keogh & Walker, 1985, p. 43)

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ReflectionSchön (1983) – reflection-in-action, on-action

Experience-Reflection-Action (Rolfe et al, 2001)

– What? So what? What next?

Collaborative reflection (Bright, 1996)

In the chat: How might writing your reflections in a blog (private or public) be useful?

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Reflection - Examples

Atychiphobia – Reflections of a 4th Grade Teacher

http://keeferto.typepad.com/blog/

Scroll down to “Uncommon Core”

Blogging for Reflection (Student examples)

http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/yisitd/2011/12/14/blogging-for-reflection/

Click on one of the student's names

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Reflection - Resources

Blogging with Students for Reflection, Collaboration, and Literacy

http://chip-chase.com/2012/02/08/blogging-with-students-for-reflection-collaboration-and-literacy/

30 Goals Challenge (for teachers)

http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2010/02/01/goal-pass-the-baton/

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Articulation of Growth Over Time

Time stamped

Reread past posts

Forms:

Learning Logs

Digital PortfoliosFormative (Working Portfolio)

Summative (Showcase Portfolio)

Multimedia(Abrami & Barrett, 2005)

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Growth Over Time

Poll: How much have you documented your teaching and classroom over the course of your career?

A) You mean I was suppose to?

B) I have my old lesson plan books.

C) If I thought about it, I took some pictures.

D) Sporadically – depending on the year.

E) Constantly.

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Growth Over Time - Examples

Two Writing Teachers

Evolution of Anchor Chartshttp://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/evolution-of-anchor-charts/

AM Literacy Learning (Learning Log)

http://amliteracylearninglog.blogspot.com/

Te Motu Pukerua Bay (Classroom LL)

http://temotu.blogspot.co.nz/

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Wider Audience

Increased motivation to write

More attention to conventions

Recognition of how audience and purpose impacts form of writing

Interactive (comments)(Bruning & Horn, 2000)

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Wider Audience

Poll: In what ways have you connected your classroom to a wider audience?

A) Pen pals (or e-pals)

B) Community newspaper/letter

C) Sent work out to be published

D) Skyped with someone

E) Partner classroom project

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Wider Audience“Build relationships with others to pose and

solve problems collaboratively and cross-culturally” - NCTE definition of 21st Cent. Literacies

Not -simulation, imaginary or RAFT

Determine & target audience

School-Bound Authentic (for school community)

World Authentic (outside of school)

Create conversation w/ comments

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Audience - Example

Writing + Audience = Blogging (Video)

http://mrsschurscomputerlab.blogspot.com/2012/01/blogging-writing-for-audience.html

ESL/EFL Sister Classroom Exchange

http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/

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Communication w/ Parents & Students

Classroom Blog

Post pictures, videos, podcasts

Post assignments

Daily/weekly

AuthorTeacher

Rotating student job

Be aware of district privacy issues

Can be set to notify via email(Light & Polin, 2010)

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Communication

Mrs. Yollis Classroom Blog (3rd grd)

http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/

Mr. Avery's Classroom Blog (6th grd)

http://mravery.edublogs.org/

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Synthesize/Capture Multimedia“Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate

multi-media texts” - NCTE definition of 21st Century Literacies

Typical portfolios are:

Bulky and paper

Static

Read/Write Web

Linking

Attaching/Embedding

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Multimedia - ExamplesElementary, My Dear, or Far From It

http://emdffi.blogspot.com/

The Classroom Bookshelf (multiple resources on books)

http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/

Resource

The 12 Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Blog

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/the-12-dos-and-donts-of-writing-a-blog

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Expanding Walls

“Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes” NCTE definition of 21st Century Literacies

Flipped classroom

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/09/the-flipped-classroom-defined/

Virtual Field Trips

Link to places – provide space to comment

Connecting to the World

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Expanding Walls - Examples

14 Steps to Meaningful Student Blogging

http://mrspripp.blogspot.com/2011/05/14-steps-to-meaningful-student-blogging.html

Holden's New York City Tour

http://porathenglish10.blogspot.com/2006/02/new-york-city-tour.html

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Expanding Walls - Resources

Taking It Global

http://www.tigweb.org/

Flat Classroom Project

http://flatclassroomproject.ning.com/

Global Education Conference Network

http://www.globaleducationconference.com/

Epals

http://www.epals.com/

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Intentional Internet Identity

Poll: How many of you Goggle yourself?

A) Often

B) Sometimes

C) Never

D) I don't know how

In the chat: What have you found? (Rate My Teacher; School website; personal info?)

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Identity

“If you aren't controlling your footprint, others are.”

Meredith Stewart - http://inforgood.wordpress.com/

“Branding is a method by which you can create your own unique identity in an

environment overflowing with competition.”

Vail Joy - http://smashinghub.com/creating-your-identity-with-blogs-and-social-media.htm

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Identity - Examples

Two Apples a Day

http://twoapplesaday.org/

Blogging Identity: Anonymity or Transparency

http://marshrachel.wordpress.com/

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Identity - Resources

Teachers, Take Care Of Your Digital Identity

http://teachhub.com/teachers-digital-identity

Keeping Your Privacy on the Internet (or Not)

http://www2.uregina.ca/ctl/2012/02/17/keeping-your-privacy-on-the-internet-or-not/

How to Teach Students About Digital Identity

http://www.edvoices.com/blog/2012/03/26/student-digital-identity/

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Professional Learning Network

Purpose:

Connect

Collaborate

Contribute

Face to face is time & money dependent, online isn't!

Resource

23 Resources about Personal Learning Networks

http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2010/05/09/16-resources-about-personal-learning-networks-plns/

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Professional Learning NetworkSeven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/“literary salon where authors and illustrators stop by”

Interesting Non-fiction for Kids (multiple posters & links)

http://inkrethink.blogspot.com/

Reflect & Refine: Building a Learning Community

http://reflectandrefine.blogspot.com/

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Blogging is Fun!

Expressive writing is good for you (Flaherty, 2005)

Connecting

Sharing

Motivational

Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal by Tara Frey

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Places to Find Good BlogsThe EduBlog Awards 2011

http://edublogawards.com/

Top 10 Technology Blogs for Education

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/03/top-10-technology-blogs-for-education.html

kathy's ed tech blog picks

http://kathyschrock.net/edtechblogs.htm

Connect-a-Blog:Collaborative K-12 Teacher Blog

http://www.connect-a-blog.com/

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Get your blog on!

“And it occurred to me that there is no such thing as blogging. There is no such thing as

a blogger. Blogging is just writing —

writing using a particularly efficient type of publishing technology.” ~ Simon Dumenco

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References

Abrami, P. C., & Barrett, H. C. (2005). Directions for research and development on electronic portfolios. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 31(3).

Bond, G.L., & Dykstra, R. (1967). The cooperative research program in first-grade reading instruction. Reading Research Quarterly, 2, 10–141.

Bright, B. (1996). Reflecting on reflective practice. Studies in the Education of Adults, 28, (2), 162-84

Bruning, R., & Horn, C. (2000). Developing motivation to write. Educational Psychologist, 35, 25-38.

Light, D. & Polin, D. (2010). Integrating Web 2.0 tools into the classroom: Changing the culture of learning. EDC Center for Children and Technology. Retrieved from http://cct.edc.org/admin/publications/report/Integrating%20Web2.0.PDF

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) (eds.) Critical Reflection for Nursing and the Helping Professions. Basingstoke, U.K: Palgrave.

Schön, D. (1983). The reflective practitioner. Basic Books: New York.