Blogging in the Classroom » views

Think before you Ban

admin — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:48:28 +0000

ESchool News presents an excellent overview of the reasons that School Board should get on board using Technologies that keep pace with our students.

Before school officials prohibit teachers and students from accessing certain web sites, they should think about the positive impact those sites might have on education: That was the message of “Think Before You Ban: How Classrooms Become Communities with Web 2.0 Technology,” a recent webcast sponsored by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
The Jan. 16 program, moderated by ed-tech consultant Karen Greenwood Henke, focused on how schools can use Web 2.0 tools to foster collaboration and innovation in classrooms.

“We cannot ignore this phenomenon,” said Susan Brooks-Young, a Web 2.0 consultant who works with schools on technology programs and integration. Educators should “look at the instructionally sound ways to bring [Web 2.0 tools] in, and help both teachers and kids make the best use of this technology.”

Web 2.0 technologies “lend themselves very well to teaching 21st-century learning skills, and our job is to prepare kids for the workforce they’ll be facing when they leave school,” Brooks-Young added.

Before school officials prohibit teachers and students from accessing certain web sites, they should think about the positive impact those sites might have on education: That was the message of “Think Before You Ban: How Classrooms Become Communities with Web 2.0 Technology,” a recent webcast sponsored by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
The Jan. 16 program, moderated by ed-tech consultant Karen Greenwood Henke, focused on how schools can use Web 2.0 tools to foster collaboration and innovation in classrooms.

“We cannot ignore this phenomenon,” said Susan Brooks-Young, a Web 2.0 consultant who works with schools on technology programs and integration. Educators should “look at the instructionally sound ways to bring [Web 2.0 tools] in, and help both teachers and kids make the best use of this technology.”

Web 2.0 technologies “lend themselves very well to teaching 21st-century learning skills, and our job is to prepare kids for the workforce they’ll be facing when they leave school,” Brooks-Young added.”

WordPress SEO for Beginners

admin — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:25:04 +0000

I present to you the very first WordPress SEO guide for beginners – The Blog Oh! Blog way. It can be considered as a crash course for all the people who are struggling to get better search engine results with their WordPress blogs.

Better search engine results will increase the number of people interested in what you have to say. In this e-book, I will guide you how to rapidly configure your WordPress blog with maximum SEO benefits.

Please use the traffic you get to sign up at the Wikispace support blogging petition

read more | digg story

People are blogging all over the world and in Ontario too!

admin — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:34:49 +0000

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.

But I need permission!

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:07:24 +0000

Using blogs in the classroom without permission can been seen as a direct challenge to the authority of the School Board or District responsible for the well being of children. For many people the media has portrayed social networks and forums as deep dark places where children are stalked and influenced by strangers. It’s not an unfounded notion.

It doesn’t take much for School administrators to reject any kind of program that would bring harm to children and blogging in the classroom seems to fit the mold. So not only is there a rejection of blogging because it is has the potential to put a strain on teacher and system resources, it is also shunned because of the fear of abuse. And that is not all that creates tension. Abuse can also take the form of a disgruntled parent or an unhappy student attacking a teacher, principal, school board posting their comments to retaliate for activities that occur in a school or classroom.

While getting permission may seem like unnecessary censorship, it only makes sense to work collaboratively with any governing body to accomplish the goals of using collaboration tools to promote student learning. One step to alleviate the concerns of those in charge is to start with a closed password protected platform.

Read this post from 21Publish

Implementing classroom blogs in more classrooms, in my observations is going to take a lot of research and good modeling to convince administrators to embrace this technology – this type of collaborative publication of information

There are all kinds of blogs and websites demonstrating the effectiveness of blogging.

There are some pioneers working hard to integrate blogs in the classroom and Welsey Fryer is one great example offering a wealth of information and resources. http://www.speedofcreativity.org/ His directory of podcasts is a great starting place for any teacher to start.www.speedofcreativity.org

Not only is Wesley Fryer providing resources, he is engaging educators in building a community of like-minded educators.

I’d like to try using blogs but…

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 03:49:45 +0000

“I have reservations about letting my students publish their work with out any controls in place.” I hear that comment from teachers administrators and parents.” YouTube shy adults, we naturally question the benefit of allowing students to publish their assignments online. The LandMark Project offers teachers a free classroom tool to use in establishing a classroom blogging environment. ClassBlogmeister

Lost in space

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:52:19 +0000

That is exactly how I feel sometimes when I start a search for information on the internet. I spend considerable time searching and reading online and one of the hardest things to do is to stay on track and focused. I consider myself as an experienced Internet traveller and I can get lost quickly so I know how frustrated newcomers must feel when tasked with developing an understanding of the Internet.

Here are two important tips to help you stay on task and find what you are looking for.

1. Write down your question and purpose before you start and keep it close beside you. Don’t laugh it works. It won’t take long before you are in Africa searching for lions when you simply wanted the directions to the Lion Safari amusement park.

2. Set the stove timer. Set it for 15 minutes. You’re laughing again right. I still remember the time I jumped in the car in my pj’s to pick up my children from school for lunch. It’s all consuming the Internet and if you aren’t disciplined you waste a lot of time surfing instead of achieving the goals you set out to accomplish.

Armed with that great advice you might like to try using NoodleTools to help you define your search and get the information that meets your search requirements.

Teach students responsible use of the Internet

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:55:36 +0000

One of the reservations teachers and school administrators have about students using the internet for classroom use centers around students acting irresponsibly, spreading rumours acting other students, teachers and principals in a way that is public and distributed freely and accessible. News reports tell stories of students using camera phones to post videos of teachers on YouTube. Chatting online, emailing and viciously targeting other students is a reality. The term cyberbulling has been coined. Societies worst traits are out there on the Internet and once published cannot be taken back. Children with all their technical savy are acting out online their lowest of lowest characters Read about it

Teaching students to be responsible takes a combined effort parents, teachers and community members. The classroom is a good place to start. In a classroom setting students publishing online puts a face on the author and creates an environment to discuss and model acceptable authoring. Consider setting up a protected online platform to facilitate this important skill. WordPress is a free open source blogging software that teachers can use to create a blogging classroom.

Giving children the license to write

admin — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 02:14:35 +0000

The controversy about giving children to use the Internet centres around cyberbulling. Read Lorna Costantini’s views