Download oct31_blogging_inst_handout_v2 (Read-Only)

Get out of the Blog
Fog!
Session Instructions
How Do I Create a Blog on My DFHS Page?
October 31st. 2008
What Is It?
• A blog is an electronic bulletin board.
Bloggers post items on their blogs, and
encourage readers to comment
• Vlogs are blogs that comment on video
clips.
• Photoblogs are blogs that comment on
photographs.
• Microblogging is a form of blogging
limited to short posts, usually less than
140 characters. The most common service is Twitter.
1. Go to http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/staff/ and enter your first name, last name,
and password. Click “Login.”
2. Click “My Applications.” If “My BLOG” is not visible, click “show inactive sessions”. If “My BLOG” is active, click the green button to turn it off so you
aren’t working “live.”
3. Click “Intro Message” and write an introductory message to welcome readers
to your blog or explain your blog’s goals, purpose, etc.
4. Click “Save” to save your message. Click “Maintain Blogs” and “add new
blog.”
5. Type a name for your blog in “Overall Blog Title”; a title for your first post in
“Posting Title”; and your first post in the box below “Posting Title.”
6. If you want to password-protect your blog, enter a password in “Password
Protected.” Type a description of your blog in the “Blog Description” box.
7. Select blog options. Recommended options are Yes to allow comments, No
to automatically authorize comments, Yes to show comments, and No to
show user e-mail.
8. Click “Next,” and then click “view page on site.”
What Do I Need?
• Blogging software such as Edublogs or
Blogger.
• An internet connection.
How Do I Use It in the Classroom?
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Posting materials and resources.
Hosting online discussions.
Creating a class newsletter.
Encouraging classroom discussion.
Upload pictures and videos.
How Do My Students Read and Leave Comments On My Blog?
1. Students will go to your web page and click the Blogs icon in the left column
menu.
2. Students will then click the link to the blog and click the “comment” link.
3. Students should type their first name and last initial, their comment, and the
red verification number.
You must approve the comments before they are visible on the site.
4. Approve comments by logging in to your site, selecting the blog and going to
the Maintain Blog screen.
5. Click “ comments needing authorization” and then “comments.”
6. Click the “Authorized” check box.
7. Click “Save.” Readers can now see the comments you authorized.
Important Reminders
Security
Identify a student and their intellectual
property only by using their first name plus
i n i t i a l
o f
s u r n a m e .
(LRSD5 Use of Internet Resources Policy)
Time Management
More time may be needed to write posts,
and monitor comments.
Assessment
Rubistar rubric: http://
rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?
screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=1080314&
San Diego State University rubric: http://
edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec296/
assignments/blog_rubric.html
Computer Requirements
Before you assign blog-related homework,
make sure all of your students have internet access at home.
Edublogs hosts hundreds of thousands of blogs for teachers, students, researchers, professors, librarians, administrators and anyone and everyone else involved
in education. The address is http://edublogs.org/.
How Do I Create an Edublogs Blog?
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Go to http://edublogs.org/ and click "Sign Up Here."
Enter the Username: It must be at least 4 characters.
Enter your e-mail address. Click the Agree box.
Select “Gimme a blog!” Click Next.
Choose a domain name for your blog. Choose wisely; this cannot be
changed.
Choose a Title for your blog.
Select “Teacher” for the blog type. Click Next.
Go to your e-mail to activate the blog.
Explore the settings on the Dashboard.
Two important first settings:
• Click “Settings” and “Privacy.” Select the second option .
• Click “Settings” and “Discussion.” Select all but the first checkbox to
limit spam comments.
A Resource List for Blogging
Learn more about setting up Blogs — then use them in your classroom.
More Blogging Tools
Blogs Focusing on Education and Technology
The most common blog creation software tools are Blogger, Edublogs, Wordpress, and Blogmeister. All three
are easy to use, and except for Blogmeister, have the
same basic setup steps: create an account (free),
choose a template and settings for your blog, and begin
writing your first post.
Anne Davis:
EduBlog Insights
http://anne.teachesme.com/
David Warlick:
2¢ Worth
http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/
Tim Wilson:
The Savvy Technologist
http://technosavvy.org/
Ewan McIntosh:
Ewan McIntosh’s edublogs.com
http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/
Kathy Schrock:
Kathy Schrock’s Kaffeeklatsch
http://kathyschrock.net/blog/index.htm
Blogger: Blogger is probably the most common blogging tool. Note that you have to have a gMail account to
use Blogger, but that is also free and easy to set up.
Unlike Edublogs and Wordpress, Blogger does not allow
you to create static web pages in addition to your blog.
Edublogs: Hosts hundreds of thousands of blogs for
teachers, students, researchers, professors, librarians,
administrators and anyone and everyone else involved
in education.
Wordpress: Many users are fond of Wordpress because in addition blog creation software, Wordpress allows users to create static pages as well, such as an
‘About’ page or other information.
Blogmeister: Blogs on Blogmeister can only be set up
by teachers; students are not permitted to have Blogmeister accounts. Nearly all of these blogs are classroom blogs. Detailed instructions are at http://
classblogmeister.com/blogmeister_instructions.pdf
Professional Reading
Getting Familiar with Blogging Terminology
Richardson, W. (2006). “Tech tools for learning.” Access
Learning, January. Retrieved 26 September 2008 from
http://www.ciconline.org/cicmagazine-jan06
In this article, Richardson provides an overview of Web
2.0 tools such as blogging, RSS feeds, podcasts, webcams, and streaming video.
Using Blogs in the Classroom
Downs, S. (2006). Educational blogging. Interactive Educator
2(2). Retrieved 26 September 2008 from http://
net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERM0450.pdf
Classroom Blogs to Visit
Green Stream: this web site is not only a classroom
blog but it also has a sidebar with links to the blog of
each student in the class.
http://itc.blogs.com/greenstream/
Mr. Craig’s Blog: this is an edublogs web site that has
pages for Mr. Craig’s students to comment by class
and by topic. He also posts announcements, updates,
etc.
http://mrcraig.edublogs.org/
Mrs. DuBose’s Super Science Class: Mrs. DuBose’s
blog has a lot of information for students, teachers,
parents — this is an excellent blog to visit for inspiration and ideas, especially with respect to content.
http://adventuresinscience.edublogs.org/
This article discusses educational uses of blogs, including
an overview of the history of blogging, detailed examples
of classroom uses of blogs, and an extensive notes section that can be used for further reading.
Blogs and Assessment issues
Elliott, B. (2008). Assessment 2.0: Modernising assessment in
the age of Web 2.0. Retrieved 28 October 2008 from
http://www.scribd.com/doc/461041/Assessment-20.
This position paper discusses aspects of assessment including characteristics of “Assessment 2.0,” advantages
and disadvantages of using Web 2.0 tools for assessment
purposes, and characteristics of 21st century learners.