Chapter+2+SES

=Chapter 2 - Sycamore Elementary School=

= Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts   Chapter 2 Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice    = Pam Thomas Chrissy Chappell Shelly Garner

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Weblogs in Schools
Summary: A Weblog is a website that is utilized by individuals to regularly post text, videos, or links to other blogs. Weblogs can be adapted to the classroom in many ways. Just a few of those many ways are class portals, online filing cabinets, collaborative space, and school websites. Class portals are created for the use of communicating classroom information to students, parents, and other teachers. Information about what is going on in the classroom can be viewed on the class portal weblog. This can replace handouts given in class. Other teachers who may be teaching the same subject area can communicate with the use of the class portal weblog. Online filing cabinets are digital filing cabinets that students utilize to store work in. Teachers do not have a need to keep up with papers coming in from students. It is all stored on the computer. All of the work is organized and it creates an easy way for students to look back at work previously done. Students also have the opportunity to share their work with other students, which enables peer collaboration. Students could maintain the file through each grade level. Collaborative space opens up a new world for students in terms of communicating. Students are able to blog with people of interest at the time of study, and students at other schools with common study interest. This communication can broaden the depth of the curriculum. School websites can be replaced with Weblog sites. If each classroom or department has a Weblog updating could be done as needed by each department. With weblogs students, parents, and teachers could have up-to-date information about the school. Weblogs are a sensible use of technology which not only keeps everyone involved and interested in what is going on in the schools, but they serve as great ways to educate students in ways other than textbooks. Resources:  http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial037print.shtml Samples: http://trent.21classes.com/ Links: http://tommarch.com/myplace/about-classportals/ http://www.surfnetkids.com/ http://bloggerschoiceawards.com/categories/17 http://www.21classes.com/ media type="custom" key="3114016"

The Pedagogy of Weblogs
Summary: Weblogs can be a tool to improve student learning. The content that students and teachers post to the web becomes a part of the wider body of knowledge that is easily accessible and searchable. Weblogs also expand the walls of the classroom. The internet connects the students with others outside the classroom. If used properly, blogs become an archive of the learning process for both students and teachers. The ultimate weblog could archive a students' work and ideas from kindergarten through graduation. Weblogs support different learning styles. For those students who might be more reticent in class, blogs provide an opportunity to share in writing ideas they may be too shy to speak aloud. Students have equal opportunity to participate and take pride and ownership of the space. Lastly, weblogs give students the opportunity focus on specific topics and become experts on those topics through collaboration with others. Links: http://msgarnerskindergarten.wikispaces.com http://tinyurl.com/2blpvl http://tinyurl.com/42jzz7 [|http://lewiselementary.org] media type="custom" key="3114080"

Blogging across the Curriculum
Summary: Blogs can easily be used as tools for reading and writing. Many educators are finding ways to use them in all areas of the curriculum. They can be used to use writing in all areas of the curriculum. It allows students to make connections that cannot be made on paper within the four walls of a classroom. Work can be done with peers in other classes or schools. Science experiments can be done that allows students to compare and reflect on the results with other students around the school, town, state, or world. Language students can blog with people who speak the native language to expand on classroom teaching. History students can build resources that expand their study on any historical event. Technology is changing the way we teach. It is opening the walls of our classroom, expanding the available resources, and providing insight to things that were only pictures in a textbook ten years ago. Depending on how it is used blogs have the potential to impact student learning in a way that we have yet to experience in our lifetime. Samples: http://tinyurl.com/2v4862 http://tinyurl.com/63zbl9 http://tinyurl.com/5lyr59

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Blogs as Resources
Summary: Weblogs can be used in many ways in the classroom. The classroom teacher can use weblogs to reflect on teaching experiences. They can be used to keep a log of teacher training experiences. Weblogs are a great tool for sharing lessons or unit ideas with others. Weblogs can be used as a communication tool. Teachers can share classroom information, assignments, and upcoming events with parents and students. They can be used to create portfolios of student work that is searchable and accessible to parents and students. Weblogs can also be used as an easy way to organize internet links that students need to access from home or during class-time. As students become more comfortable with blogging, teachers can encourage them to enter thoughts and reactions to specific events or classroom discussions. Weblogs are also a very simple and easy way to help students become more comfortable with using technology. Students can also use weblogs to collaborate and complete projects with other students when they cannot work together otherwise. Links: http://tinyurl.com/2blpvl http://tinyurl.com/42jzz7 [|http://lewiselementary.org] http://tinyurl.com/uwozp media type="custom" key="3114124"

Classroom Uses of Weblogs
Summary:Teachers can use Weblogs to reflect on their own teaching or provide information for other teachers. Class blogs can be utilized for writing prompts, communication with parents, to post videos and photos, book clubs, and as links to classrooms around the world. Students can create their own Weblogs to create portfolios for their work, express their thoughts about various topics discussed in class, and converse with students at other schools about various topics. Weblogs in the classroom can take the students and the teachers many places within the world. Links: http://savagewritingnnovels.21classes.com/ media type="custom" key="3114148" (1) Students should read a wide variety of print and nonprint texts to build understanding of texts, themselves and the cultures of not only the U.S. but the world. (2) Students should read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to understand the many dimensions of the human experience. (3) Students should apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. (4) Students should adjust their use of spoken, written and visual language to communicate effectively. (5) Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write in order to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes. (6) Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions media techniques, figurative language, and genre to creat, critique, and discuss print and non print texts. (7) Students conduct research on issues and interest by geerating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience. (8) Students use a variety of technological and information resources, to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge. (9) Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles. (10) Students whose first language is not English make use of their first language to develop competency in the English language arts and to develop understanding of content across the curriculum. (11) Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities. (12) Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes. media type="custom" key="3110952"
 * // Standards for the English Language Arts //**
 * Summary ** : These standards were guided with the belief that all students should have the opportunities and resources to develop the language skills necessary in order to be informed, productive members of society. They also make the assumption that literacy growth begins long before children ever reach the school system and that these standards serve as a tool in which educators can encourage the further development these children bring with them. A standard's function is to provide ample room for the innovation and creativity essentil to teaching and learning. These standards are not separable; they are intened to be interrelated and considered as part of a whole.
 * Resources ** : NCTE / IRA Standards for the English Language Arts
 * Links ** : http://www.ncte.org/standards