Transcript Weblogs in Education New Jersey Association of School Administrators TECHSPO 2004 Conference January 29, 2004

Weblogs in Education
New Jersey Association of School Administrators
TECHSPO 2004 Conference
January 29, 2004
Agenda
• Welcome & Intros
• Objectives
• Blogging Basics: Confessions
of a Newbie
• Best-Practice Blogs: an
Interactive* Tour
•Q&A
* - Simulated via screen shots
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Objectives
Knowledge
Describe Blogs
List main parts
Blog Models
Comprehension
Explain Use
Discuss Issues
Building Blogs
Application
Live* Blogs
Key Trends
Resources
* - Simulated via screen shots
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Kevin Jarrett
Technology Facilitator, K-8
Northfield Community School
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Blogging Basics:
Confessions of a Newbie
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Blogs: a working definition
How I got started
Fascinations & frustrations
Where I am now
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Blogs: a Working Definition
• Blogs are websites, in a journal format, that present
content in a way that promotes group collaboration
• Blogs use simple forms to make adding content
(“publishing”) very easy
• Knowledge of HTML helpful (not required)
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Blogs: a Working Definition
• Components:
– Blogging software (web or local server)
– Template (formatting, layout)
– Posts (content)
– Hosting (yours or theirs)
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
How I Got Started
• Wanted an easy way to update my site
• Researched, chose Blogger.com
• Taught myself how to modify templates using
Dreamweaver
• Soon began envisioning classroom applications
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Web Log Characteristics
• Posts are in reverse chronological order…most recent
first.
• Updated on a regular basis, sometimes daily
• Most Web logs are written in an informal, first person
style and are filled with opinion.
• Most hyperlink to or reference news and information
from other sites; many connections.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Web Log Characteristics
• Primarily text, but Web logs can include all sorts of
multimedia files
• Invite comment and interaction from readers
• Searchable archives
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Masthead
Dateline
Blogroll
Links
Comments
Posts
Hypertext
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Fascinations & Frustrations
The Good
•EASY to create, use &
maintain
•Professional look
•Innovative technology
•Many Blog services
The Bad & The Ugly
•Template editing
•Server downtime?
•Many Blog services
•Acceptable Use issues?
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Where I Am Now
• Currently maintain four Blogs
• Primary educational application is a technology
resource portal for fellow teachers in my K-8 district
• 4th grade class collaborative blogging project
completed last November
• Considering using Blogs for teacher pages, special
projects, school website
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Will Richardson
Supervisor of Instructional Technology
Hunterdon Central Regional High School
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Why Weblogs?
Weblogs have a number of characteristics that make
them interesting as classroom tools.
1. Easy to create—most blogging software packages
come with ready made professional looking designs
that you can personalize if you like. And most have
you up and creating content in a matter of minutes.
2. Access from anywhere with an Internet connection—
Starbucks, the in-laws, soon on planes. You don’t
need special to read and update Weblogs.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Why Weblogs?
3. Audience and communication—Weblogs allow you to
publish to a large audience or a targeted one
depending on your needs. And it allows that audience
to interact by leaving comments.
4. Collaborative—The ability to share space means you
can invite almost anyone into the conversation.
5. Knowledge Management and Archiving—By keeping
thoughts or projects or ideas in a Weblog, it becomes
an online filing cabinet with different folders, and it’s
searchable as well.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Why Weblogs? (Con’t)
6. Multimedia—Weblogs can make use of audio and
video, and some can store files of other types for easy
retrieval.
7. Hypertext—Weblogs allow for easy linking to research
and sources of information.
8. Low cost—Most Weblog software is either free or
relatively inexpensive, depending on your needs.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Schools
There have been some really interesting examples of
use in schools as teaching tools and as communication
tools.
Online Filing Cabinet
Collaborative Learning Space
Online Discussion
Professional Development
School Website
Library Portal
Information/Communication
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in the Classroom:
Online Filing Cabinet
• Students and teachers can use the Web log as a place
to store assignments, plans, handouts, etc.
Susan L.
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January 29, 2004
Weblogs in the Classroom:
Collaborative Learning Space
• Students can extend conversations outside of the
classroom, and collaborate with invited guests from
around the world.
The Secret Life of Bees /Author
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January 29, 2004
Weblogs in the Classroom:
Online Discussion
• Weblogs can work as a discussion group for students
and staff.
Honors Sociology / Discussion
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January 29, 2004
Weblogs in the Classroom:
Professional Development
• New (or veteran) teachers can use Weblogs as
portfolios or as an archived discussion of their practice
with mentors .
Entry Year Teacher
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January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Schools
Weblog as Website
• Schools can use a distributed content creation model
when using Weblogs as Websites.
Lewis Elementary
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January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Schools:
Library Portal
• Galileo High School Library in San Francisco uses a
Weblog as it’s gateway to students and staff
Li-blog-ary
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January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Schools
Information/Communication
• Weblogs can provide a great way to manage
knowledge, from committee work to historical
artifacts.
Technology Committee
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January 29, 2004
Weblogs in Schools
Reams and reams of digital paper for
students, teachers and
administrators to create with.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in the Classroom:
Writing Instruction
Blogging as Genre--Critical thinking, information
literacy, research, collaboration and composition
skills.
1. Find and read material that is relevant to your life.
2. Capture the essence of this relevant reading, give
credit to its source, and synthesize those ideas into a
piece of writing that advances a personal, perhaps
greater understanding of that topic
3. Publish that writing for response and for perhaps
pushing someone else’s thinking on the subject.
4. Read some more.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Weblogs in the Classroom:
Writing Instruction
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Web Log Options
• Free Web log software on the Internet
– Blogger
– moTime
– Many others
• Software for local installation
– Manila--$295 a year for up to 3,000 sites
– Moveable Type—Free to schools
• Pay Web logs with hosting
– Type Pad--@$30 a year with a limit on space
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Web Log Considerations
•Software -- all Web log software is not the same.
Teachers need to find the best tool for intended use,
and should think about ease of use, depth of content,
collaboration, etc.
•Access -- not all students have the same amount of
access
•Privacy -- posts can be accessible by anyone, or can
be only viewed locally (intranet) depending on
software. Collaboration and feedback can be limited
and moderated depending on software.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Web Log Considerations
•Time and Support -- planning and set-up take time,
and tech support is required.
•Assessment -- what and how.
•Server issues -- local server use is best since files are
more secure. Remote storage may result in loss of
content.
•Paradigm Shift -- distributed content model requires
a change of thinking on the part of teachers and
administrators.
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004
Thank You! Questions?
•Kevin Jarrett, [email protected]
Technology Facilitator, K-8
Northfield Community School
Northfield, NJ
•Will Richardson, [email protected]
Supervisor of Instructional Technology
Hunterdon Central Regional High School
Flemington, NJ
Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo,
January 29, 2004