Proposal to Administrators for Using Blogs in Education By J. Wilson & T. Weinberg

Proposal to Administrators for Using Blogs in Education By J. Wilson & T. Weinberg EDC 921 Deliverable #3 What is this thing? Foremski, Tom. Silicon Valley Watcher. 10 May 2005. Silicon Valley Watcher. 24 Nov. 2008 <http://www.siliconvalleywatcher.com/mt/archives/The_BLOG.jpg>.

Objectives • Based on our readings and experimentation with new technologies, we feel that many teachers in our school could benefit from using blogs. In order for you, our administrators, to feel comfortable with this new technology, we have prepared this presentation to explain what a blog is and how it can be used in education. • We would like to propose using a school-wide blog to help our staff become familiar with the practice of blogging and its potential for instruction.

Blog, Blog, Blog... Blogging 101 • What is a Blog? • Blogging Terms • When Did Blogs Begin? • Types Of Blogs • Using Blogs in Education • Expert Opinions on Blogging • Sample Educational Blogs • Blog Uses in the Classroom • Blogging Guidelines • Considerations • What Is Involved In Creating Blogs • Guidelines, Especially For Classroom Blogs • The Administrator’s view of blogging • Potential Roadblocks • Proposing a Technology Committee Blog

What is a BLOG? • Short for WeBLOG • An interactive, online personal commentary • Tends to look like web pages • Posts are displayed in reverse chronological order • Readers may add comments to the blog, leading to a discussion • Usually intended for general public consumption • Members-only blogs are possible • Blogs can be hosted by dedicated blog hosting services, or run using blog software

Anatomy of a Blog Beginner’s Guide – Components of a blog page In a nutshell - description of a blog from Google’s Blogger.com The works! - a techie’s version

If you want to be "cool", "hot", or "whatever", then you need to know the lingo • Blogger - The page's editor • Blogging – verb for updating the blog • Blogosphere- the totality of the blogging community. Also known as Blogistan or the blogiverse. • Dead-tree Media - anything made of paper such as newspapers and magazines. • Drive-by Blogging - the sudden rush of blog entries that fill in the gaps and fulfill the requirements of the weblog portfolio assignment. • Edublog - an education oriented blog • Vlog- video blog

When Did Blogs Begin? • Blogs began in 1994 as online personal diaries • By 2001 collective groups used them to communicate • After a slow start, blogging rapidly gained in popularity • Technological changes helped make it easier to blog

How did Blogs become so popular…and …What do these events have to do with Blogs? Monica Lewinsky Blogger.com LiveJournal U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott Howard Dean Iraq war "Rathergate" The Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina Radio and Television

How did Blogs become so popular…and What do these events have to do with Blogs? Monica Lewinsky Blogger.com LiveJournal 1998-The Drudge Report, a popular U.S.-based news website is most famous for being the first media to break the news of the Monica Lewinsky scandal to the public. 1999 – was launched (purchased by Google in February 2003) and was one of the first blog publishing tools. It helped make blogging famous. 1999 - arose as a virtual community where Internet users could keep a blog, journal, or diary. It was a predecessor to MySpace.com. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott Howard Dean 2002 - many blogs focused on Senator Lott, who made comments praising Senator Thurmond. Lott's critics saw these comments as approval of racial segregation. Blogging helped to create a political crisis that forced Lott to step down as majority leader. 2004-encouraged supporters to blog. Blogging by established politicians and political candidates, to express opinions on war and other issues, solidified blogs' role as a news source.

How did Blogs become so popular…and…What do these events have to do with Blogs? Iraq war "Rathergate" The second Iraq war is the first "blog war". Iraqi bloggers gained wide readership. Blogs are also created by soldiers serving in the Iraq war. “Warblogs" give readers new perspectives on the realities of war, and sometimes offer different viewpoints from those of official news sources. Blogs were among the driving forces behind the "Rathergate" scandal. Dan Rather presented documents (on the CBS show 60 Minutes) that conflicted with accepted accounts of President Bush's military service record. This scandal is viewed by many bloggers as the beginning of acceptance by the mass media, as a source of news and opinion and as a vehicle to apply political pressure. The Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina Radio and Television 2004 -important source of news about the Tsunami 2005 –during and after Hurricane Katrina, a few blogs located in New Orleans broadcasted information that was not covered by the mass media. Today-Bloggers provide nearly-instant, ”live-blogging” commentary on televised events. Radio and television are “old media” now

Familiar sites that are actually Blogs: Business: Commercial - Amazon.com Multi-Media: Video - YouTube Photo – Flickr Social Networking: MySpace FaceBook These are also Blogs: Informational by Subject: Political DailyKosMichelleMalkin Daily Fashion Report News ABC Sports FanBlogs Personal Journal: Ramblings FatManWalking Internal communications: Communication- Medical Gadgets Information - Technical Q and A Some Types of Blogs

Using Blogs in Education:Expert Opinions • Why use Blogs in education? • Rationale for educational blogging • Video- why let students blog? • Research shows that Blogging improves writing

Sample Educational Blogs • Educator to Educators -CoolCats • School Elementary School Principal • Student Created -High School Project • Administrator to Administrator- Principals’ Office • Classroom …

Blog Uses in the Classroom • Educators may post assignments for students on a blog, even adding links to resources. • Language arts class: http://bhwilkoff.edublogs.org/ • Science class http://zixthgrade.edublogs.org/ • Math class: http://pamarquardt.edublogs.org/ • To try to extend classroom discussion, educators may post thought provoking questions on their blog and ask students to comment. • Language Arts (8th grade, Colorado) http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=117417 • teach expository skills- audience for opinions http://ithink.edublogs.org/ • English Corner - 6th grade, Georgia - http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=17192 • Still others give students their own blogs to post their work. • Online portfolio Mr. Mayo's Student Weblogs 100+ student blogs used in Language Arts class (grade 8) • 5/6NT Blog (Grades 5 and 6, Ottawa) http://grade5nt.edublogs.org/ • Collaboration Nation Team – (Grade 8 Connecticut) http://pbogush.edublogs.org/ • Excellence and Imagination (Grades 7 and 8) http://mr-fisher.edublogs.org/ • Tell the Raven - Student blogs classroom blog (Grade 6, Alaska) http://tellraven.us/denali/ • The Write Weblog student blogs http://itc.blogs.com/thewriteweblog/ • Some blogs combine several of the above types • the Electronic Pencil -- (grade 6, Massachusetts) http://epencil.edublogs.org/ • A Blog can also be used to encourage student collaboratation • Literature study guide (Secret Life of Bees) http://weblogs.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/bees/

Blog Uses in the Classroom (Cont.) Another reason educators are using blogs in the classroom is to actively engage students in the learning process. Some ways students interact through blogs are: • Posting literary response questions • A teacher can present a question based on literature being read aloud in the classroom. This allows the students to leave insightful comments based on the literature. • Posting students’ written publications • When the student posts their written work on the blog, other students and adults can read and leave comments based on each piece. • This can act as a vehicle for a publishing party. • This provides added incentive and a deeper sense of pride in their work for the students to improve the quality of work due to its publication on the World Wide Web.

Some Suggested Blogging Guidelines "Don't Drink and Blog." bLaugh.com. 05Jan 2007. 31 Jan 2007 <http://blaugh.com/2007/01/05/dont-drink-and-blog/>.

Considerations to address • Blog access and visibility Blogging software has different ways to control access • Public: the whole world can see it • Private: just a select group • Blog content There are several ways to avoid inappropriate postings: • Limit to invited participants • Need email address, so often can’t use with students • Send comments to a moderator before posting • Create guidelines for blog users

Considerations for classroom blogs • Students should be taught to avoid posting personal details • Teacher should establish rules and check student work • Accommodate students without home internet access • May want to notify parents to explain purpose and dispel possible concerns

Planning Define purpose View other blogs Evaluate blog software Develop guidelines Implementation Set up blog Communicate about blog Post student work or provide instructions for student posting What is involved in managing a classroom blog? • Maintenance • Develop plans for students to use blog • Monitor email to approve posts • Reflect on value of blog, tweak if needed

General Guidelines for Blogging • Plan before starting • Blog has educational value • Choose appropriate software • Define and state purpose • Identify who is running the blog and who may respond • Make blog visually appealing • Uncluttered • No advertisements • Easy to navigate/use • Keep it current • Frequent postings maintain interest • Check links if any are used

Guidelines for Classroom Blogs • Address security • May want to limit access to classmates and possibly parents • Student posts should leave out personal identifiers • Comments should go through teacher for approval to weed out inappropriate responses • Create and state blog rules,e.g. • Use of proper language vs. IM shorthand • Proofread before publishing • Try to be positive • Make it interactive • May want to notify parents

The Administrator’s view of blogging “I Blog, therefore I am." bLaugh.com. 21 Dec 2006. 31 Jan 2007 < http://blaugh.com/2006/12/21/i-blog-therefore-i-am/>.

Potential Roadblocks to Blogging • Resistance to technology • Some staff members are afraid to try something new • To counteract, we will start with a diverse group willing to explore using technology (the technology committee)

Potential Roadblocks to Blogging • Professional development needs • Teachers will need to learn how to start and maintain a blog • We will use the Technology Committee blog as a “training blog” to allow staff to become comfortable with reading and commenting on a blog • Technology Resource Teacher and Library Media Specialist are available for support

Technology Committee Blog • This new blog will be used to share the minutes of Technology Committee meetings and to solicit information regarding the technology needs of the school. • Previous communications were in the form of emails, but this method was imperfect, as shown on the following slide…

Using Email vs. a Blog • May omit individuals on • original messages or • replies • Comments • may be accidentally • deleted or lost in the • clutter • Depending on when • individuals respond, • comments may be out of order • Need to retain subject line to follow conversation • Individuals can join the “conversation” at any time • Responses are preserved to be read later • Easy to follow flow of comments EMAlL BLOG Respondents can take the time to reflect before writing

The Blog has arrived! • Visit the Technology Committee Blog

Additional Blog Resources • Search engine for blogs • www.technorati.com • Blog services we have used • http://classblogmeister.com/ • http://edublogs.org/ • www.blogger.com

Resources Used "Blog History in Timeline Form." Blockstar. PIC Web Services Inc. 29 Nov. 2008 <http://www.blockstar.com/blog/blog_timeline.html>. "Katrina Disaster Blog Sept. 4." Katrina Disaster. 5 Sept. 2005. CBS Broadcasting. 29 Nov. 2008 <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/04/katrina/main814689.shtml>. Carr, David. "Mourning Old Media’s Decline ." Media & Advertising . 28 Oct. 2008. New York Times. 30 Nov. 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/business/media/ 29carr.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&fta=y&adxnnlx=1228158421-eti5P9O9ABUyQmm6+wRQOA>. Craver, Kevin. "A fond farewell to Rathergate." Weblog post. Rathergate.com. 8 Aug. 2005. 29 Nov. 2008 <http://www.rathergate.com/?p=955>. Fitzpatrick, Brad. "This is Crazy!" Weblog post. LiveJournal News. 9 Nov. 1999. PIC Web Services . 30 Nov. 2008 <http://www.blockstar.com/blog/blog_timeline.html>. Glover, Daniel. "The Rise Of Blogs." Weblog post. BELTWAY BLOGROLL. 20 Jan. 2006. National Journal Group. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://beltwayblogroll.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/01/ the_rise_of_blo.php>. Handwerk, Brian. "Tsunami Blogs Help Redefine News and Relief Effort." National Geographic News. 28 Jan. 2005. National Geographic Society. 29 Nov. 2008 <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2005/01/0126_050126_tv_tsunami_blogs.html>. Kevin. "National Journal Looks at Impact of Blogs on Politics." Weblog post. Pundit Review. 20 Jan. 2006. 30 Nov. 2008 <http://www.punditreview.com/2006/01/ national-journal-looks-at-impact-of-blogs-on-politics/>. Seemann, Luke. "Drudge Report Report." stating the obvious. 23 Jan. 1998. 28 Nov. 2008 <http://www.theobvious.com/archive/1998/01/23.html>.

Proposal to Administrators for Using Blogs in Education By J. Wilson & T. Weinberg