More than a Blog... Manage Your Class with It!

Teresa Wu | Educational Technology Specialist [email protected]

| http://www.edukitty.net

FallCue 2011

About the Presenter

M.A. in Instructional Design and Technology from CSULA Currently working as a Chinese teacher Specialize in: Technology Integration in Curricula Professional Development Design Technology Project Based Learning

Before We Start...

Please remember to provide me and CUE with a evaluation of this presentation at the end.

Thank you!

What is LMS/CMS?

Commonly referred to as Learning Management System, a.k.a Classroom/Course Management System

What is it?

Software application for administration, documentation, tracking, classroom and online events, e-Learning programs, and training contents. (

wikipedia

)

Common Characteristics Included in a LMS

Manage users, roles, instructors, and/or administrators Generate reports (online or offline) Course calendar Student messaging and notifications Assessments and grade book function Web-based or blended course delivery

Some Common LMS Systems

Moodle Facebook-like LMS (Edmodo, Schoology, Haiku) Blackboard

These are great for use, but they are more for classroom administration. Their social networking power is not as emphasized.

Why Use a Blog as LMS?

Information Access and Dissemination Flexibility and Simplicity Interactivity, Community and Networking Customizable Gives class sites a “human touch” Free! And it supplement existing programs if needed

Common Blog Platforms

Wordpress Blogger Edublog Ning

Some features that most blogs share...

Chronicle Entries Tags Categories Repository Posts/Pages Links Comments Dashboard Themes/Designs Plugins/Widgets

Blog Platforms Comparison

Wordpress ( http://www.wordpress.org

)

Wordpress Pros & Cons

One of the most popular and powerful open-sourced blog platform

TWO

options - Self-hosting or Wordpress.com

Highly customizable through themes and plugins Suitable for any tech-level skills.

Plugins and themes may be time consuming to search for.

Self-installed version not really free - hosting and domain cost money For advanced options (contained classroom, student blogging, etc.) or special page layouts (columns, etc.) takes knowledge of CSS or unique page template (not WYSIWYG)

Who ’s Using Wordpress?

Install Wordpress

Get a Domain name Buy hosting, and link your domain name to the hosting account

Log in

to your hosting account panel Scroll down until you see Fantastico Click and go through the steps

Wordpress as LMS

Utilize roles

- Super Admin, Admin, Editor, Author, Contributor, Subscriber.

Use Plugins

to customize, protect and lock your Wordpress blog.

Use RSS/Subscribe

to track changes and students ’ contributions.

Use Comments

to respond to students and give feedbacks.

Roles Consideration

Super Admin -

You or your IT person

Admin -

Department chair, administration

Author -

Students

Subscriber -

Parents and/or students

Wordpress Roles Capabilities

Useful Wordpress Plugins

Askimet

- control SPAM

In series

- linking related post together for easy access

Similar posts

- list related articles at the end of a post

Contact Form

- email forms for students and parents

404 Notifier

- double checking your site for 404s

WP Post Notifier for All

- Notify students of new posts being published.

Subscribe to Comments

- leave it check by default so students/parents get notified when receiving replies.

Learninglog

- Create assignments for students to answer directly. With privacy setting.

Homework widget

- homework calendar that ’s easy to navigate

Dropbox Upload Form

- to allow homework submissions be uploaded.

WP-Filebase Download Manager

- maintain classroom documents to be downloaded

One Site vs. Multisite

One Site

Creates and maintains an interactive social presence for disseminating information and foster friendly environment for students and parents to interact with the teacher.

Teacher maintains strict control over the environment and monitors posts.

Easier, contained ground for grading.

Multisite

Allows students to express creativity by maintaining their own blogs.

Can be monitored through RSS feed. Basic understanding of PHP and web hosting required.

Wordpress Demo - Class Portal ( http://www.mgjhscience.net/voight/ )

Wordpress Demo - Multisite ( http://wordpress.bhmschools.org/j1blogs/ )

Blogger

(

http://www.blogger.com

)

Blogger Pros & Cons

Google-powered FREE blogging tool that ’s connected with your Google account Easy-to-customize, easy to start Networks built-in through Google accounts (can set privacy) Easy embed of Google Docs, YouTube, and other Google services Does not allow multiple authors/multisites Only 10 static-page supported Inferior commenting and sorting system (labels only) Limited themes available

Get a Blogger

Log into your Google Account On the top menu, click MORE -> Blogs Follow the on-screen guide to create your first blog!

Blogger as LMS

GoogleDocs

- easy to embed. An alternative to uploading class material and multiple-author support.

Blog by Email

- quick and easy update via e-mail. Take blogging on the go much easier!

Subscribe to Blog/Comments

- allow students to keep track of post or comments.

Join Site

- via Google Friend Connect

Duplicate Posts

- reuse posts for easy updating/planning

Blogger Demo ( http://drpenglish.blogspot.com/ )

Ning ( http://www.ning.com

)

Ning Pros & Cons

A combination of social networking and blogging tool Contained environment that ensures privacy Good amount of Apps to choose from Personal blogs, private messaging, discussion board, and social page included for students Free version is limited to Ning Mini (1 GB storage, members are moderated on) A slightly higher learning curve than simple blog platforms.

Ownership rights - Ning owns the right and title to all intellectual property.

Transfer of Data is lackluster (you can ’t take the material you created elsewhere)

Get a Ning

Go to Ning ( http://www.ning.com

) and create a Ning Mini. You will be required to enter payment information with the 30 day Free Trial Go to the Ning Mini for Educators website and apply for the Pearson-sponsored Ning Mini http://go.ning.com/pearsonsponsorship/

Ning as LMS

Events Page

- a calendar of events that can be utilized as homework posting or announcement.

Forum

- To enable discussions and/or homework submission (uploading files are ok)

Groups

- allow students to have discussions within their groups and submit materials.

Chat

- live chat for students to collaborate, discuss or socialize

Ning Demo ( http://edupln.ning.com/ )

EduBlog ( http://www.edublogs.org

)

EduBlog Pros & Cons

Powered by Wordpress Verified apps to avoid installation headaches Privacy setting that allows teachers to add students for viewing or editing posts Password protect-posts for security measure.

Free version is for personal use mainly, and extremely limited for LMS purpose (20MB only, cannot embed video or other multimedia, etc.) Student blogs are $3.33/50 blogs No custom plugins for free version.

Why EduBlog?

EduBlog relieves teacher the worries of purchasing and maintaining a domain name and web hosting and installing Wordpress.

Great for people who just started using blogs.

Good privacy setting that teachers don ’t have to think about.

Some advanced features (in paid version, such as wiki and forums) require no installation/adjustment on the part of the teacher.

Get an EduBlog

Go to http://www.edublogs.org

and sign up.

If you have more than 50 students you wish to provide personal blogging space to, contact EduBlog under “Campus” option.

EduBlog as LMS

Utilize Outside Source -

Use GoogleDoc for classroom material and link out, DropBox link for uploading assignments, and embed HTML for multimedia.

Password-protect Post

- For private comment to students and/or parents.

Add Student to Blog

- either for editing purpose or viewing to ensure privacy.

EduBlog Demo ( http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ )

How to Choose the Right Platform?

Know your Goal

- What is the purpose of this blog? How do you plan on using it?

What are your essential tools?

- Many platforms share similar tools, but there are some that are exclusive to one another. Are they your must-have ’s?

What is your technical comfort level?

- Some blogs require more maintenance than others. Are you comfortable with that?

Budget

- Is budget an issue? How much is “too much”? What about your time budget?

Things to Consider

Cost

- Shop around if you ’re thinking of a paid service. Platforms that offer customer service often comes at a premium price.

Support -

Does the platform offer support for custom-made apps to fit your needs?

User Friendly -

Is the platform you choose friendly to your students? Are they comfortable with the features you included?

For More Information

How to Start a Blog -

http://www.howtostartablog.org/

5 Steps to Starting a Teacher ’s Blog -

http://www.planbookedu.com/blog/archives/5-steps-to-starting-a teachers-blog

Starting a Blog - A Guide for Teachers -

http://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk/2011/06/starting-a-blog-a-guide for-teachers/

TeacherFirst Blog Basics -

http://legacy.teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogbasics.cfm

My Contact Info

E-mail: [email protected]

, [email protected]

Website: http://www.edukitty.net

Twitter: @iseulde

Online Session Evaluations fall.CUE.org

2 steps:

• Navigate to the session(s) you attended and click the ‘ Evaluation ’ link to begin.

• Answer the questions on the evaluation and hit submit!

That

’

s it!