Weblogs in Education

1. Weblogs in Education New Jersey Association of School Administrators TECHSPO 2004 ConferenceJanuary 29, 2004

2. 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

3. 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

4. Kevin Jarrett Technology Facilitator, K-8Northfield Community School Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

5. Blogging Basics: Confessions of a Newbie • Blogs: a working definition • How I got started • Fascinations & frustrations • Where I am now Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Masthead Dateline Blogroll Links Comments Posts Hypertext Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

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16. Fascinations & Frustrations EASY to create, use & maintain Professional look Innovative technology Many Blog services Template editing Server downtime? Many Blog services Acceptable Use issues? The Good The Bad & The Ugly Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

17. 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

18. Will Richardson Supervisor of Instructional TechnologyHunterdon Central Regional High School Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

19. Why Weblogs? Weblogs have a number of characteristics that make them interesting as classroom tools. • 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. • 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

20. Why Weblogs? • 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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. Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

24. 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 Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

25. Weblogs in the Classroom:Online Discussion • Weblogs can work as a discussion group for students and staff. Honors Sociology / Discussion Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

26. 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 Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

27. Weblogs in SchoolsWeblog as Website • Schools can use a distributed content creation model when using Weblogs as Websites. Lewis Elementary Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

28. 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 Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

29. Weblogs in SchoolsInformation/Communication • Weblogs can provide a great way to manage knowledge, from committee work to historical artifacts. Technology Committee Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

30. 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

31. 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

32. Weblogs in the Classroom:Writing Instruction Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. Thank You! Questions? Kevin Jarrett, kjarrett@atlanticava.orgTechnology Facilitator, K-8Northfield Community SchoolNorthfield, NJ Will Richardson, wrichard@hcrhs.k12.nj.us Supervisor of Instructional TechnologyHunterdon Central Regional High SchoolFlemington, NJ Weblogs in Education, NJASA Techspo, January 29, 2004