“Blogging the Brontes” Incorporating Web 2.0 Into TEKS Curriculum

1. “Blogging the Brontes” Incorporating Web 2.0 Into TEKS Curriculum Daniel WilsonBishop Dunne Catholic SchoolDallas, TX

2. Daniel Wilson Bishop Dunne Catholic School Dallas, TX Advanced Placement Chair Email: dwilson@bdhs.org Twitter: danwilsontx Class Twitter: MrWilsonBDHS Class Blog:http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=22572

3. My Background: • Originally from UK • Don’t consider myself part of Web Generation • Arrived at Bishop Dunne 10 years ago and have been there since • Teach English Language AP and English Literature to juniors and seniors • First presentation at a conference

4. Bishop Dunne circa 1999

5. Bishop Dunne circa 2009

6. Current use of technology at Bishop Dunne

7. How Can Web 2.0 Help You ? • Twitter – Microblogging in and out of classroom • Dim Dim - Going beyond the HS • Then it is up to you…. • CPR - Taking the grading out of writing • Blogging - Creative class discussion • Podcasting - Real uses in the HS classroom

8. How many of you have heard of Twitter? • How many of you have used Twitter? • How many of you have an account?

9. Twitter “in Action” • In the middle of last semester, I became tired of an overflowing inbox. • Decided to hold virtual “Office Hours” • Available from 7pm-9pm Monday to Thursday • No longer accept student emails • Use it for quizzes and group work

10. What do the students think? • What are the benefits? • What are the drawbacks?

11. Is Twitter just Social Media Fluff? • One of fastest growing apps out there • Barack Obama is the most followed person on the planet • Currently one of the most instantaneous news sources • Steve Jobs’ medical leave • Broke theHudson Miracle Story • Personally, I network with some of the best and brightest educators in the world.

12. Uses for Twitter in HS Education • Conversations from class continue outside of class • Develops a sense of community within the class – changes the class dynamic • Can track a class “keyword” • Can track an event – TCEA • Instantaneous feedback • Follow and expert or even a celebrity • Public Notepad

13. Other uses for Twitter • Can use to gather real world data – can reach out to your network and gather information. If you teach geography, it could be meteorological; if you are teaching Current Affairs it could be a foreign opinion on a topic. Provides real time information

14. Other uses for Twitter • Can do Twitter searches for topic word. Can use Twitscoop on Tweetdeck OR you can use Twitterfall.com to find a certain topic word • For example: TCEA

15. You enter your search here

16. Fun uses for Twitter • Historicaltweets.com • According to the site: “Books have been ruining history. So many unnecessary words.  Now, with Historical Tweets, history’s most amazing men and women can be fully understood, a mere 140 characters at a time.”

19. Effective uses for Historicaltweets.com • Would be a good project kids for example – could use it for a project on Gatsby or on General Lee and Ulysses Grant • An effective warm up or could be an ongoing chapter by chapter assignment • Can use it as a short Timed Writing assignment – good for TAKS practice

20. How do I use Twitter? • Extremely simple and, best of all, FREE! • Go to Twitter.com and create an account • Create a profile so people can see if they should follow you • Start searching for people.

21. Create unique Username and Password

22. Type your message/request/ Tweet Number of people that you are following and are following you

23. Applications to Help with Twitter • Tweetdeck • Twhirl • Tweetie (iPhone/iTouch app)

24. Tweetdeck

25. and it’s uses • After school Office Hours • Class Discussion Forum • Microblogging • Meeting place for group work • Cross-curricular projects • Involve parents in class work • Reduces number of emails • Distance Learning technology

26. Dimdim: Web 2.0 and Distance Learning • What is it? • Open Source Web Conferencing Software. Similar to webex or Gotomeeting but free! • How can I use it? • Extended review and tutoring. Offers chance for specialized and specific remediation and advancement. Did I mention that it is free?

27. Very simple to set up a meeting. You can start one immediately or set a time. • Can invite using dimdim but I prefer Twitter

28. Public Chat Forum Interactive Whiteboard Video Feed of teacher

29. Demonstration of dimdim • Visual and/or audio of teacher • Can use the interactive whiteboard • Can have public and/or private chat • Can upload/display documents, powerpoints, etc, and give audio commentary • Can share your computer screen with students • Can record the entire session and document the chat

30. Advantages and Uses of dimdim • The “Kyle Stevens” story • Can teach from anywhere • Can use it for weekend/evening review • Can add up to 3 mics so students can teach/contribute • Could use it for student led lessons. • Invaluable for Summer AP sessions.

31. Blogging in the HS Class • Number of possibilites out there:

32. Uses for Blogs:

33. Example of a “Safe” Blog ClassBlogmeister • Created by David Warlick • Generated specifically for K-12 classrooms. • Administrator has total control over who is a member, who has access, who can post, and what can they post • Is somewhat limited in “bells and whistles” but is an effective and ultimately safe blog

34. List of classes and student names Teacher Blog entries and assignments Student entries

35. How to create a Blog • Go to classblogmeister.com • Need to email David first at: david@landmark-project.com to get a school pass code • Create a blog and begin customizing it. You can add images, change the background, etc. • Painful part – you need to enroll students

36. Tips and Hints for Blogmeister • Create separate classes for students • If you have multiple students, ensure multiple passwords • Install ClusterMaps so students can see power of Blog • Use the New Approval tool – turn off the email notifications • Have students write blog in WORD first then Spellcheck and cut and paste. Also there are timeout issues. • Be specific with blog requirements and length • Use the Comment function to increase interactivity

37. Real uses for Podcasting in the High School Classroom • Audio Lectures • Book Reports • World Language Vocal and Audio Practice and Mastery • Student Essays • Oral Reports • Professional Development • Use of outside expertise • Test and Quiz Review • Study Skills Review • Vocabulary Practice and review

38. Bishop Dunne’s iTunes Selection of Podcasts

40. Or if you have nice friends at White Oak ISD… • You may be able to use your school server • You can remote host them at sites such as

41. Example of a Podcast Assignment • 1st Podcast Assignment that I give my students – on-level and AP • ROR Assignment – given 6-8 weeks outside of class to read, plan, and create the assignment • Give them a class tutorial on Audacity but can also use TechEase: Classroom Tech Help in the College of Education at University of South Florida on iTunes U

42. What to include in an assignment • Allow the students creativity but given certain parameters such as length and content • Give them a rubric so they know what they are being graded on. • If you have a strong group, push them to use music, sound effects, etc. • Maybe require a script or notes for the first one.

43. CPR (Calibrated Peer Review) • Taking the grading out of writing assignments • Thanks to Kirk Smith & Dick Gongaware from James Madison HS, Vienna, VA for their help with this application

44. Background to CPR • Developed & managed by UCLA (funding support from NSF & Howard Hughes Institute) • Created 2000/2001 • Not promoted or advertised • Web-based • FREE • > 90% of users are college professors • Very simple – just go to http://cpr.molsci.ucla.edu/

45. Calibrated – better than a grading rubric Peer – students assess others Review – how did we do?

46. Can provide source material (references) • Provide specific directions • Teacher provides examplars (calibration essays) • Students evaluate above & are “calibrated.” • Students evaluate peer essays • Students evaluate their own work. • Students see his/her results • Teacher sees ALL results

48. Text entry directly into CPR OR Cut/paste from word processing. You set the deadline for text entry – different deadline than calibration/evaluation deadline.

49. Perhaps the most difficult part