The following document is a presentation I made to the B.O.T. and at a staff meeting to share why I thought classroom blogs were a tool of the future.
Class Blogs - http://chelseabachelors.blogspot.co.nz
What are they and why have one?
·
Following a conference in Palmerston North in 2009 I
became interested in following up on a workshop that got me excited about
something that I could do with the students in my class. I felt that blogs were
another way that the parents of these students could become interested and
involved in their child’s learning.
·
A class blog is a tool where children can publish
their learning to an authentic audience in a Web 2 environment. 2011 children
live in an elearning environment.
·
What is eLearning?
The Ministry of Education tells us that it is " Learning and teaching
that is facilitated by or supported through the smart use of information
and communication technologies".
·
The difference between a blog and a page on a web site
is that there is a facility where the audience can post a comment or give feed back
to the author - the child – also no advertising. Facebook is similar but has an
advertising element.
·
It has been researched that effective feed back and feed back
from sources other than teachers and peers can promote/encourage further
learning (“Clarity in the Classroom” by Michael Absolum)
·
This is a trial class blog managed by me, the teacher
(containing work from this year’s class. You can view it at : http://chelseabachelors.blogspot.co.nz/
·
Anyone can create their own blog at: http://www.blogger.com
·
A
blog (according to Wikipedia) “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. 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 of readers to leave comments
in an interactive format is an important part of many
blogs.”
blogs.”
How blogs fit into the
1. Using language, symbols, and texts
Using language, symbols, and texts is about working with and making meaning of the codes in which knowledge is expressed. Languages and symbols are systems for representing and communicating information, experiences, and ideas. People use languages and symbols to produce texts of all kinds: written, oral/aural, and visual; informative and imaginative; informal and formal; mathematical, scientific, and technological.
Students who are competent users of language, symbols, and texts can interpret and use words, number, images, movement, metaphor, and technologies in a range of contexts. They recognise how choices of language, symbol, or text affect people’s understanding and the ways in which they respond to communications. They confidently use ICT (including, where appropriate, assistive technologies) to access and provide information and to communicate with others.
2. The English Curriculum Achievement Objectives state:
…..By using these processes and strategies when speaking, writing, or presenting, and listening, reading, or viewing, students will:
- Show some understanding of how
to shape texts for different purposes and audiences.
View more class
blogs at:
http://www.ptengland.school.nz –
scroll down to Blogs link
Older children can create their own blogs - View a Year 5’s own blog spot
– she was part of an elearning extension class
Dorothy
Burt from Pt England School is the “guru” on class blogs and has a link that
answers many questions and is full of all manner of blogging tips and help
ideas: https://sites.google.com/a/ptengland.school.nz/blog-rollover/
More
information on her cluster's blog:
Blogs at Chelsea School? - Where
to from here?
·
Families
sign the security forms allowing their child’s work and photo to be published when
they enroll at Chelsea
·
First
names only with photos and work
·
Blog
settings are set so that any comments are emailed to the teacher to moderate
before being posted on the blog
·
A
link off our own Chelsea
School
·
Or
do we want just our parents to have access?
·
The
blog has reading and writing activities, publishing and sharing
opportunities, links
to games for reinforcement in a controlled place
·
Encourage
and work alongside other teachers to help create their own class blog?
·
Links
to resources that parents can access eg Basic Facts, Spelling lists,
Homework
sheets, newsletters, online activities/games to reinforce and
practise learning
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