Blogging in the Classroom

Jumping into the world of using Web 2.0 tools there is a mountain of ideas to sort through in getting started. A really good network of bloggers is essential way to keep rooted. There are so many great software applications some one needs to guide your learning. If you don’t you are likely to run away screaming. If you haven’t found classroom 2.0 take a look and sign up. Discussion forums, resources, your own blog are all available free. I am working with two young teachers helping them work with parents and setting up their first classroom blog. There a few teachers that I would like to highlight.First www.MrWaxlersClass.com. Adam Waxler has used a simple Kubrick default theme for his Wordpress blog. Unlike man other teachers, over at edublogs.com, Mr. Waxler chose to host his website as a distinct domain name. Makes good sense. As you become more proficient and your blog gets bigger the only price tag you will need to worry about his your web hosting package. I found that www.dreamhost.com offers a very reasonable package with lots of “goodies”. Take a peek and let them know I sent you - they give out referral fees. You can do the same thing and reduce the cost of your hosting fees.I want to walk through Mr. Waxler’s blog and why I think that it is a good example of where to start. It is extremely helpful for students and their parents. Homework for the week at a glance. Good resources to help with parenting skills. Most importantly it is simple to update. When you get the hang of blogging you can add the bells and whistles like this web site www.masterymaze.com The author of Masterymaze is looking for other teachers to help build a library of subject specific podcasts.A helping hand can be found from Anne Pemberton@ www.educationalsynthesis.org and Kathy Epps and her BlogDay resource.

Everyday more and more teachers have exciting tools at their finger tips ready to make learning global and easy. Alex Couros demonstrates to folks around the world what is in store for students and classrooms of the 21st century. As if kids had all the fun. Alex did a test drive of a skype conference and Ustream broadcast. Twitting volunteers to join in. This is a screen cast of Alex streaming live (using Snapzpro and my Mac Book Pro). There is no audio as the volume was turned down to stop echo in the skype conference. Alex Couros used Ustream to broadcast and Camtwist (Mac) for the visual effects and desktop demonstrations, Audio Jack and Soundflower to put the production together.

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Matt Montagne Grade 8 classroom teacher at University School of Milwaukee invited me to his virtual classroom to collaborate with Parents at his school. PBS was playing a program Growing up online and he asked his parents to view the program as it was being broadcasted live on TV. Matt organized an online meeting using Skype. Parents watched the telecast in their own homes and while watching the program chatted with Matt and I about their reactions to the program. To make it even more exciting, PBS was not broadcasting in my area so Matt set up his web camera in front of his own TV and broadcast the program via Ustream Kids don’t have a monopoly on online communications.

After you review the program which is now available online, I am sure that you will relate to these issues discussed by the parents.

The Internet cannot be blamed for the dysfunctional relationships between family members. In reference to the suicide death of Ryan Halligan described in the video.
Jacquie:

Bullying is not new. Seems the fact that it is all going on under the radar screen is a real problem.;

and

My son stays in touch with his best friend in Malaysia over the internet. Yet when his friend was in the US over xmas, he wouldn’t pick up a phone and call him. He said it is is difficult to talk on the phone because of awkward pauses, etc. He is more comfortable conducting the relationship on-line.

This program is a must see for all parents no matter the age.
Matt talks about his experience hosting the session.

Quentin D’Souza in his blog teachinghacks.com has some good posts on professional development resources.
This post about Video on Demand for Professional Development leads the way to a media rich website packed with curriculum based information organized by discipline and grade. The program created for Ontario Teachers does not require registration so any teacher can benefit.

Every member of Ontario Teachers Federation is invited to access in-depth professional development workshops from leading educational producers. There are hundreds of hours of Professional Development streaming video content available here. The programs will be available from early November 2007 to November 30th,2008.

There is no registration to access the materials at this time, although the registration process will be simple enough for any educator to access the content.

http://www.iriseducation.org/b2b/otffeo/

One can only speculate why this information is not more widely known to educators in Ontario, or promoted by other organizations under its umbrella. So spread the word!

The amount of information about blogging in the classroom is endless. The experts are varied and located in all parts of the world. The expertise is phenomenal. For the past 2 years I have watched from a distance how the technology is unfolding and in particularly in Canada. For some time the number of teachers and educators in Canada seemed to be meager. It is my neck of the woods and so I am thrilled to find committed individuals like Diane Hammond promoting the use of blogging as a way to enhance student learning at Ontario Blogs. I have watched with admiration as David Warlick, Wesley Fryer, Victoria Davis set the stage for the 21st century classroom. As a former trustee I am skeptical about any immediate adoption of blogging in main stream schools. In my previous post “I need permission” I discussed the biggest barriers to incorporating new learning strategies that include blogging, administrative support and funding. I don’t blame administrators for hesitating when it comes to technology and innovation. All too often administrative decisions are predicated on funding. But the buck needs to stop some where and in Ontario that is Queen’s Park. When students have 2 computers in the classroom and 40 minutes a week in a computer lab it is unrealistic that teachers and students become bloggers without a committed energetic teacher who embraces technology. Ontario Blogs is a strong indication of how funded projects can generate change and professional development but it takes more than one or two time funding to see every student with a computer. I have found excellent examples of blogging teachers Darren Kuropatwa, Quentin D’Souza for example and Diane Hammond and the iss07.yesican-science project So often the pioneers set the stage but they can’t do it alone. If that is to change, perhaps the following video should be required reading for all politicians.
Thanks to Matt Montagne at Middle School Ed Tech Blog for featuring this youtube video.