One of the reasons I was fortunate enough to be invited to the JIS Technology Learning Institute at the beginning of August, was because I blog with students – not just my own anymore, but with students right through our Elementary School now in my role as ES Technology & Learning Coach.
Below is the Keynote from the first Blogging Session – How To Get Started that I did with JIS Faculty – unfortunately their blogging platform was not ready – so I did a lot of the talking. Good questions were asked and I hope I answered most of them – especially about why Blogging in the Classroom can be so rewarding for students (and for the teacher – after the initial hard work!).
Blogging in the Classroom: Getting Started
Key Points Covered
- Class or individual blogs;
- Rules and Guidelines;
- Motivation;
- Blogroll;
- Sidebar Widgets;
- Posts vs Pages;
- Effective and engaging posts;
- Connect with others;
- RSS Feeds;
- Creative Commons;
- Media file storage;
- Useful links.
Useful Links
- Our Blogging/podcasting Contract
- TeachingSagittarian (Posts under Blogging)
- Langwitches Blog (Full of great ideas/tips)
- Student Blog Challenge
- Comments4Kids Blog
I also hoped to do another session with the JIS faculty – Blogging – Making it Sustainable! But as with these things, we ran out of time. I’ve embedded it below for your convenience.
Classroom Blogging – Making it Sustainable
Key Points
- Let the students own it;
- Use a variety of media;
- Be open and forge connections;
- Join a blogging challenge;
- Comment regularly;
- Get parents/families involved.
Helpful Resources
- Student Blog Challenge
- Comments4Kids Blog
- TeachingSagittarian (Posts under Blogging)
- Langwitches Blog
Special thanks
Special thanks needs to go out to my twitter PLN mates for their super ideas on sustaining blogging in the classroom – @dakinane @heymilly @lenva @pam_thompson @allanahk @glassbeed – you guys are awesome and of course you had to be included in the credits!
Cross-posted here on the Technology & Learning Blog; Originally written in 2011; Updated in 2017