Hi Guys - hopefully you got something out of the workshop. I've stuck up all the blogs I could find. I'm guessing that quite a few people haven't actually followed the instructions about web addresses.
No matter - if you are reading this and your Blog is not listed on the right, make a comment on this page (click on comments). That will give me your Blog address and I'll put it up on the list.
Go and have a read of everyone's Blogs and make a few comments. I'm going to carry on with this blog (I'll try and get something up every couple of weeks) and I'll write a journal of my development as a teacher who utilises ICT. I may have taken a workshop but I'm definitely not that far (if at all) in front of you guys. Check it out in the future and we may be able to get some collaborations going.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Timlearn stuff
What are Blogs?
from Wikipedia
A blog (a contraction of the term "web log")[1] is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
A wiki ( /ˈwɪki/ WIK-ee) is a website that allows the easy[1] creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor.[2][3] Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems.
SO
A Blog is a piece of text (usually, an opinion piece – eg. film review, political comment – but often a journal or diary) housed on a web site especially set up for blogging. People place blogs on the web for interested parties to read. There is usually an area for readers to make comments about that piece and some readers may do so. Most blogs have open access to readers – NOT PASSWORD PROTECTED.
A wiki is generally a place for collaborative creation and editing of content (eg. A Y9 Social Studies class may have a wiki page called ‘Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Basin’ and one group would put up some info on Maori and another would put up some info on South American native tribes, etc, etc). A wiki is generally password protected to the extent that only members of that class can contribute material.
Why bother reading blogs?
Blogs are a great way to keep up to date in specialised areas. You can follow an expert who regularly publishes opinions on a subject.
Some Famous Blogs:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/ (notorious right wing political blog by David Farrar)
http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/ (another right wing rant by Cameron Slater)
http://journal.davidbyrne.com/ (David Byrne – front man for band, Talking Heads)
http://www.themarthablog.com/ (Martha Stewart’s Blog)
Educational Blogs
http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/ (Derek Wenmouth’s ICT in education Blog)
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ (good USA blog – google certified teacher)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard (general UK educational issues – hosted by the Guardian newspaper)
To keep track of your blogs you can use an RSS feed (really simple syndication) so you know when it’s updated and so you don’t have to keep searching for it. If the page has a live RSS feed, the icon below will be orange and you can click on to that and save it in your favourites.
Not all pages have a live feed so a good way to sort your blogs out is to join Google and use their ‘Google reader’ programme.
What good reasons are there to use blogs in our programmes?
3 simple reasons:
• Journals, reviews, reflections, academic writing can all be easily produced and displayed on a blog.
• Engagement: often, students don’t like doing any of the things mentioned above but they are more likely to engage when a computer is involved (probably because of the ease of writing that spell-check gives them, the chance to personalise their blog space, the opportunity to see how other students are developing an idea, etc)
• Collaboration – students will hopefully read and comment on other students’ work. Also they can gain a wider view of what’s happening in the big wide world.
What sort of activities would lend themselves to a blog?• A reading journal – reviews and reading logs (could easily be fashioned for any English or Communications reading standard).
• A journal for any production or presentation activity in Drama, Technology, Music, Art, etc.
• Any physical activity (in Outdoor Pursuits, PHED, Dance, etc) that requires logging the accumulation of skills or fitness.
• Any research activity that requires an accumulation of material or commentary (although, for juniors a wiki might be better).
• One teacher I know wants his students to engage with different points of view so he has set them the task of finding two blogs on the class topic and contributing a comment to each.
• Collaborative student activity (groups working towards the Scholarship examination, for example – this could be across the cluster).
Arguments against blogging
• Kids (especially boys) don’t like blogging for school – school work isn’t Facebook
• Not all kids have the internet at home
• I can’t get into the computer rooms
• Kids work shouldn’t be on display like that – it’s probably not safe and they could well be inappropriate
• This is going to be too much work for me.
• Any I’ve missed?
Blog Risks to Consider
School have guidelines and acceptable use policies (AUP) regarding the use of school computer networks and the Internet. These terms and conditions identify acceptable online behaviour and access privileges.
Blogs may be viewed publicly, as any other Web site. Students must be trained on issues regarding access, privacy, security, and free expression. As blogs have no publisher, producer, or editor, students must carefully consider the content of postings to avoid anything defamatory, libellous, or infringing upon the rights of others. If you’re worried, attain parental permission first before getting
Blogs are created by individuals for various and assorted purposes. Content should be recognized as the opinion of the blogger, and, therefore, may not necessarily be factual.
Right – Head to www.blogger.com
Tasks
• If you already have a google account, all you need to do is log in.
• If you don’t just click, CREATE A BLOG and then sign up for a google account – all you need is an accessible email address.
• When you get to the bit that asks for your blog address put your initials, then timnet: my name is Dave Thorp so my blog address is
http://dttimnet.blogspot.com/ . That way we will all know where to find each other’s blogs. This is a good thing to do with your classes.
• Write your first blog – a paragraph is fine. The topic is “Teaching and ICT: where I want to be in a year’s time.” I’ve written one – check it out.
Extension exercise for goodie-goods:
• Go to a blog on the web and subscribe to the RSS feed.
• Go to Google Reader and take the tour – perhaps you’ll want to sign up.
• Check out other blogs
from Wikipedia
A blog (a contraction of the term "web log")[1] is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
A wiki ( /ˈwɪki/ WIK-ee) is a website that allows the easy[1] creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor.[2][3] Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems.
SO
A Blog is a piece of text (usually, an opinion piece – eg. film review, political comment – but often a journal or diary) housed on a web site especially set up for blogging. People place blogs on the web for interested parties to read. There is usually an area for readers to make comments about that piece and some readers may do so. Most blogs have open access to readers – NOT PASSWORD PROTECTED.
A wiki is generally a place for collaborative creation and editing of content (eg. A Y9 Social Studies class may have a wiki page called ‘Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Basin’ and one group would put up some info on Maori and another would put up some info on South American native tribes, etc, etc). A wiki is generally password protected to the extent that only members of that class can contribute material.
Why bother reading blogs?
Blogs are a great way to keep up to date in specialised areas. You can follow an expert who regularly publishes opinions on a subject.
Some Famous Blogs:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/ (notorious right wing political blog by David Farrar)
http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/ (another right wing rant by Cameron Slater)
http://journal.davidbyrne.com/ (David Byrne – front man for band, Talking Heads)
http://www.themarthablog.com/ (Martha Stewart’s Blog)
Educational Blogs
http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/ (Derek Wenmouth’s ICT in education Blog)
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ (good USA blog – google certified teacher)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard (general UK educational issues – hosted by the Guardian newspaper)
To keep track of your blogs you can use an RSS feed (really simple syndication) so you know when it’s updated and so you don’t have to keep searching for it. If the page has a live RSS feed, the icon below will be orange and you can click on to that and save it in your favourites.
Not all pages have a live feed so a good way to sort your blogs out is to join Google and use their ‘Google reader’ programme.
What good reasons are there to use blogs in our programmes?
3 simple reasons:
• Journals, reviews, reflections, academic writing can all be easily produced and displayed on a blog.
• Engagement: often, students don’t like doing any of the things mentioned above but they are more likely to engage when a computer is involved (probably because of the ease of writing that spell-check gives them, the chance to personalise their blog space, the opportunity to see how other students are developing an idea, etc)
• Collaboration – students will hopefully read and comment on other students’ work. Also they can gain a wider view of what’s happening in the big wide world.
What sort of activities would lend themselves to a blog?• A reading journal – reviews and reading logs (could easily be fashioned for any English or Communications reading standard).
• A journal for any production or presentation activity in Drama, Technology, Music, Art, etc.
• Any physical activity (in Outdoor Pursuits, PHED, Dance, etc) that requires logging the accumulation of skills or fitness.
• Any research activity that requires an accumulation of material or commentary (although, for juniors a wiki might be better).
• One teacher I know wants his students to engage with different points of view so he has set them the task of finding two blogs on the class topic and contributing a comment to each.
• Collaborative student activity (groups working towards the Scholarship examination, for example – this could be across the cluster).
Arguments against blogging
• Kids (especially boys) don’t like blogging for school – school work isn’t Facebook
• Not all kids have the internet at home
• I can’t get into the computer rooms
• Kids work shouldn’t be on display like that – it’s probably not safe and they could well be inappropriate
• This is going to be too much work for me.
• Any I’ve missed?
Blog Risks to Consider
School have guidelines and acceptable use policies (AUP) regarding the use of school computer networks and the Internet. These terms and conditions identify acceptable online behaviour and access privileges.
Blogs may be viewed publicly, as any other Web site. Students must be trained on issues regarding access, privacy, security, and free expression. As blogs have no publisher, producer, or editor, students must carefully consider the content of postings to avoid anything defamatory, libellous, or infringing upon the rights of others. If you’re worried, attain parental permission first before getting
Blogs are created by individuals for various and assorted purposes. Content should be recognized as the opinion of the blogger, and, therefore, may not necessarily be factual.
Right – Head to www.blogger.com
Tasks
• If you already have a google account, all you need to do is log in.
• If you don’t just click, CREATE A BLOG and then sign up for a google account – all you need is an accessible email address.
• When you get to the bit that asks for your blog address put your initials, then timnet: my name is Dave Thorp so my blog address is
http://dttimnet.blogspot.com/ . That way we will all know where to find each other’s blogs. This is a good thing to do with your classes.
• Write your first blog – a paragraph is fine. The topic is “Teaching and ICT: where I want to be in a year’s time.” I’ve written one – check it out.
Extension exercise for goodie-goods:
• Go to a blog on the web and subscribe to the RSS feed.
• Go to Google Reader and take the tour – perhaps you’ll want to sign up.
• Check out other blogs
ICT and Teaching: Where I want to be in a year.
I suppose I should start with where I am now. I use the data projector for power points and videos and I use the intranet to put documents and other things up for students to download. I try to include ICT in student activities - junior students hand in at least one assessment via powerpoint and senior students use photostory when analysing one of the texts. I have had students blogging and I want to do more of that.
In a year's time, I want to have incorporated some mobile technology into my teaching - I really want to find a use for all those cell phones! I also want to make the intranet material more interactive. I think they are achievable goals.
In a year's time, I want to have incorporated some mobile technology into my teaching - I really want to find a use for all those cell phones! I also want to make the intranet material more interactive. I think they are achievable goals.
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