Blogging in the Classroom

In the April 2007 issue of Technology and Learning, Jeff Utecht talked about blogs and why educators aren't using this tool as a way to enhance learning, thinking and conversation. You can find the article at techlearning.com
Jeff discusses how blogs should be used as a continuing conversation with students from your own classroom and beyond. This perspective can capture the attention of your students. With a little guidance on how to post to a blog geared for educational topics, kids can show off what they think, ask questions to clarify their understanding, and perhaps gain a global perspective on the issue within the conversation.

As educators we should be latching onto the tools of today to harness the abilities known and unknown to our students. We must meet them where they are in the world of today. That world includes blogging, instant messaging, cell phones, social networking and Second Life. Every chance I get I introduce the idea of blogging to teachers but many are just not there yet. I don't post enough myself but we must get in and get going. We must realign how we work with students so they are motivated and intrigued. Today's students want more than a lecture. They need multiple ways to get at what we are trying to teach. It is up to us to learn new things and work in new ways with them. A blog can open the doors to learning if used as a place for commenting, discussion and conversation about specific issues and topics. Give it a try. The kids will respond.

More about Web 2.0

In the world of education and social networking Web 2.0 tools are powerful assests. I discovered an article that address some of the ups and downs of where Web 2.0 is headed. Take a gander at what Michael Rogers has to say in Can Web 2.0 Change the World?

And from Wired News reporter Ryan Sigel learn more about the buzz of people and Web 2.0 in his article, Are You Ready for Web 2.0?

Still not sure about this new buzz? Then take a look at Tim O'Reilly's, the one who coined the term, Web 2.0:Compact Definition?

Being that I am an educator I'm interested in where this will go in K-16 classrooms. How, what and when will these tools impact teachers in k-12, university professors,and school district administrators? Don't we in the digital immigrant world need to be considering the ways in which we will use these tools to reach the students who are digital natives? Think how we can bring cultures and learning together. Here are two teachers thinking on the cutting edge in Flat Classrooms These teachers are using Wikispaces, blogs and Skype to move learning to a new level. Too bad these tools are blocked for many school districts.

Web 2.0

Have you thought about where we will be going with the collaborative look and feel of the web, commonly known as Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 is considered by many to be a new era of Internet use, an improved version. One where social networking, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, weblogs, and collaborative data drive what's happening on the web.

Have you created a blog? or a moblog? Have you used Wikipedia for information or added to the collective knowledge? Have you visited craigslist or eBay? Have you tried working with a group at wikispaces? Or how about Skye and internet phone conferences. There's lots out there to make communicating across the world more fun. Give some new tools a try but before you do try looking at the video at YouTube about Web 2.0

Lots of Choices

Getting up to date on the tools out there for working over the web can be overwhelming but oh so much fun. Blogging is a create tool to use as an extension to classroom instruction. Homework assignments can be posted and students can ask questions in the comment section. Using a blog in this manner is very effective when the teacher makes sure to keep updating assignments and more importantly responding to student comments and questions.

Mobile blogging can be another tool to use with students as a reporting place for specific assignments. Here's a suggestion: geometry exists everywhere in the world. For the students who have a mobile phone (most do these days), have students create a mobile math blog, capturing geometric shapes and reporting their observations in their moblog. You would need the address for evaluating their work. Discussions and expectations for the moblog would need to be covered in class prior to using this tool. It would definitely need to be G - rated.

Some free or low cost spaces for blogging:
Blogger
Live Journal
Typepad

Wikis are good tools for sharing information and working in a collaborative environment. Create your own at Wikispaces. A wiki is a webpage that many can edit together. Pictures can be added to share with others. Wikis are easy to use.

Start your own place on the web for you and your students.

A New Blog

I haven't been using this post as I once planned. I've gone back to school and must use blogging there and work started a blogging site for my team. So between these I have been neglectful. I will try to add more here but for the time being, I've included a link for the other site.

Learning to use Garage Band

WOW! Today was a huge success for the principals and other administrators who attended. Dr. Tim Tyson presented the happenings at his school, Mabry Middle in Marietta, GA. Then he took everyone to multiple AH AH moments with hands on learning. Everyone had a brand new fresh out of the box MacBook to learn to use Garage Band to produce a podcast. It was great hearing many PC users say, "This is so easy." One of my colleagues, Pat Sutton, who uses a PC only said, I can't believe I'm thinking I want a Mac especially if I can run Windows XP with Boot Camp. I could do everything with one machine."

By the end of the day we had shown 30 principals and assistant principals how easy producing a podcast can be and how digital tools can motivate students to learn what we as educators need to teach them. Corey Harris, principal at Longview Middle from Memphis City Schools, and Tyson both shared real stories of things happening in their respective schools that have changed what happens at school. At the end of the day, two Nano iPods were drawn for as door prizes. Rhoda Stigall, principal at Gardenview Elementary, and Ken Strong, supervisor for safety in MCS, each won with screams and shouts of excitement. I'll soon have a podcast posted of the day. It's great to show others how technology tools can impact teaching and learning. The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Flyer, local papers, sent reporters over during the day. Stories will follow in each.

Podcasting with Principals

We have been working hard all day to prepare for an exciting day with district principals, assistant principals, mental health supervisors and more. Wednesday, June 21 we will have Dr. Tim Tyson visiting from Georgia. Many of you may have heard him speak at conferences. Tim will share his experiences with podcasting, then teach administrators how easy it is to get started with podcasting. We are expecting between 35-40 for an all day session including hands on training with brand new never used MacBooks ( the black ones). After lunch our own Corey Harris, principal at Longview Middle will share experiences of leading a one to one wireless school and his beginnings with podcasting. It will be an exciting day. More to come tomorrow.
We had lots of help today so thanks to the group that helped get ready, Jess Feldman, Jeff Baxter, Kevin Reed, Frankie Sharp and Diane Raley. Cindy Putnam helped sort laptops when they arrived and Scott Holcomb along with Jess and Jeff will be helping in the sessions tomorrow. Thanks everyone. Couldn't do it without the team!