Blogging Basics (and RSS too…)
I am probably more familiar with Blogs and RSS tools than other Web 2.0 applications. I use blogs pretty regularly in my classes for writing assignments, research, and portfolio-style projects. Writing this post and preparing this presentation is giving me a nice opportunity to reflect on some of the things I have done in my classroom and how I can continue to refine my methods.
So let’s begin, shall we?
Why use blogs?
My biggest reason for using blogs is the idea of an audience for student writing. My students simply write better when they understand that someone other than their teacher may be reading it. By posting their writing on blogs, students are publishing their work for a theoretical world-wide audience. Another reason is the collaborative nature of blogwriting. Through links, trackbacks, comments, and RSS feeds, students can create a virtual community in their blogs. This adds a strong social context to their writing. It is more realistic to students that their classmates will read and respond to what they wrote than the mostly theoretical worldwide community. So when they do get a comment from an outsider, it really adds a level of depth to the existing conversation. Like this example with a student taking a high school civics class…and his mature response to the comment by someone he doesn’t know.
A benefit for me as a teacher is the archiving capabilities of blog posts. I can look back and see which posts were made on which day without cluttering up my file cabinet. When my students are supposed to be writing a journal entry for each day of research, I can check my class RSS feed that day and see each entry as it is posted. (Sorry for only linking to an image, some schools block social networking sites, like blogs or RSS readers…here’s the real link).
What can I do with blogs?
Lots of things! There are a few methods for blogging with your class that you may want to start with.
The Corporate Blog
This is one website with multiple student authors. The teacher acts as an administrator, but each student has the ability to post to this one blog.
Individual Student Blogs
Each student publishes and customizes an individual weblog. The teacher may be added to the site as an administrator.
The Mother Blog
The teacher and each student sets up a blog. The teacher’s acts as sort of a highlight reel for the classroom. The teacher comments on and links to a few student posts each week. Students are encouraged to visit and comment on the teacher’s site. Each student site has a link on the teacher’s blog.
Practicalities
Amazingly enough, some school districts aren’t completely sold on the idea of social networking. To many people, social websites = Myspace. That simply isn’t the case. Not all blogsites are havens for online predators. Most unknown visitors to your students sites will be respectful and courteous. But there are steps you, as the teacher, can take to make your online experiment a safe one.
-Establish some ground rules. There are lots of examples online of other teachers who set up class blogging projects, and their rules are pretty easy to follow. Mine are included in my parent letter.
-Speaking of which…write home to the parents. Let them know that you are starting this online-oriented project. My letter spells out what we’ll be doing online and providing specific reasons behind it. You can use mine as a guide, or adapt to what suits your classroom and your students best.
-You may also need to convince your district that your project is worthwhile. Many schools block blogging sites, so you may need to get special permission to give your students access to the specific site you would like to use. I wrote a proposal to my district for my projects this year. You may take a look at it and use it if you need to for your own class projects.
Ideas
What are some of your ideas for using blogs in the classroom? I’ve used them for weekly reflections and writing assignments, research journals, portfolios, creative writing assignments, and presentations in my classes, but I’m only scratching the surface of ideas. What are some ways that blogs could be useful in your classroom? Please, leave a comment and respond!
[…] Click Here for my post on Blogging and RSS Click Here for my post on Podcasting and Vodcasting Click here for my post on Wikis and Online Collaboration […]
Pingback by BevillBlog | March 12, 2007
I enjoyed your pictures but would like for them to have captions. Were they all from your trip last year?
Comment by Laura Hunter | March 12, 2007
Blogs would be great, but I’m not sure it would work in my class. I always have kids who don’t have Internet access, and I’m sure they’d use that as their crutch for not soing the assignment.
Comment by Cathy | March 12, 2007
Scott, thank you for the presentation. I am afraid I am in the 35+ age group and am a little wary of all this. Your information went well with what we have experienced with writely.com. I know your students must love doing this and enjoy having a teacher who knows what they are talking about.
Comment by Cathy | March 12, 2007
Scott,
The diversity of your blogs is really impressive. I had several really simple ones with Art Young at Clemson. The first semester his class of seniors training to be English teachers corresponded with my class of AP students about The Things They Carried. It was the freshman novel that year. Interestingly enough, one of those student teachers was to be mine the next semester. The next year, we corresponded with a different class about a collection of poems by Art’s friend, Patrick Bizarro. The blog set up several groups with approximately 5 of his students and 5 of mine in each group. The blogs culminated in the students actually meeting each other. It’s a variation you might add to your repetoire because it has people getting to know each other via the blog rather than people who already know each other talking.
Comment by Nancy Swanson | March 12, 2007
I am amazed by your blogs. I would love to do something with my students, but it would be difficult getting computer time at school. I have also taught Film Criticism without a textbook- I really love your idea of having them create it on-line. Did you give them the topics first, or allow them to post whatever they found under the subject? I also love the idea of moviemaking as a semester project for the film class. In the past I’ve given them several different choices as a culminating project, but now I could have them use what they’ve learned in class and make their own movie using pictures and movie maker. They could do a group project and present at the end and students could post critical reviews on-line. What do you think about that as a possibilty?
Comment by Charlotte Bruner | March 12, 2007
I learned so much from your presentation. Your students are fortunate to have you for a teacher!
I will be visiting your blog again. I have already followed some amazing links. There is so much more to explore. Thanks for sharing with us!
Comment by Janet | March 12, 2007