Entries Tagged as 'Blogging 101 WebQuest'
April 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment
Now that you’ve created your own blog and learned the basics, it’s time to think about how you might involve your students in blogging.
In this final task, you will work on your own to create and post to your blog a lesson integrating blogging.
Step by Step Directions For Classroom Teachers
| Sample Blogging Lessons
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1. Think about a lesson, unit, or activity you currently teach with your students.
- What are the goals of the lesson?
- What, specifically, should students know and be able to do at the completion of the lesson?
- How might you teach the lesson in a different way-using blogging?
- How could students use blogging to master the same content and skills?
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| Teacher Blogs:
Class Blogs:
Individual Student Blogs:
Helpful Resources
Standards
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3. What type of blog would work best for the lesson?
- A teacher blog to which students contribute?
- A class blog with multiple authors?
- Individual student blogs?
4. What resources do you need to provide to scaffold students?
- Would a project checklist be helpful?
- Would a list of links to sources be helpful?
- Are graphic organizers needed?
5. How will you assess students’ learning?
- Do you need to provide a rubric?
- How will you assess students work throughout the lesson as well as the end product?
6. Now, create a lesson, project, or unit that integrates blogging. Create (or locate and link to) accompanying resources. Post the lessons and resources on your blog.
Before beginning, you might want to explore some of the lessons in the links to the left. |
For Other Educators (Administrators, Curriculum Coordinators, Literacy or Math Specialist, Educational Technologists…)
| Support Blogging (See the sidebar at right where blogs are categorized by type.)
Teacher Lingo
(Another huge list of categorized educator blogs)
Use a blog search to search for blogs in your specific speciality area:
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- Think about the way you communicate and collaborate with colleagues, parents, other educators.
- How might you use a blog to improve communication?
- How might you use a blog to inspire and model best practices?
- How might you use a blog to collaborate with other educators?
2. Explore at least three of the blogs from the list of blogs at Support Blogging or Teacher Lingo. As you explore, think about how you might learn from them or modify their methods to suit your purposes. |
| 3. Now, plan one project or activity that allows you to use your blog to help you reach out to others more effectively. |
| 4. Write a post on your blog either explaining your project plan or (if possible within the time limits of this course) create the actual project. |
Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
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In this part of the process, you will work on your own to create a blog using the free edublogs site.The focus of this activity is on the process (and relative ease) of setting up your blog, rather than the content of your blog. However, you may first want to take a moment to consider the items on the following note sheet (which may help as you create your blog).
Edublogs Planning Sheet Task 3
Creating your first blog will be very easy.
Step By Step
- You at least looked at the planning sheet above, right?
- Remember that links from this page open in new windows (this window is just behind the windows that open).
- In a moment, you will start a step by step process for creating a blog. It is so easy you will laugh. If you get stuck, ask your neighbor, or come back to this page and refer to the links on the left.
- If you need instructions in how to create the blog, check out the videos or manual in the links at left.
- Go to edublogs.org and create your blog by enter your info. in the boxes (Don’t forget your planning sheet).
- After you create an account, you must validate it with a link Edublogs will send you in an e-mail. Open your e-mail and click on the link to get started.
- Now for the fun part! Using the resources in the links at the left, personalize your blog:
- Choose a template.
- Update your profile.
- Write a post.
- Create an “About Me” page.
- Upload a blog avatar.
- Choose widgets for your sidebar.
- Add some links to your blogroll (maybe some favorite blogs you found earlier).
Remember, this page is right behind the new window if you get stuck, but you won’t get stuck because this is so easy!
Now that you’re familiar with the dashboard, let’s move on to creating a blogging lesson for your students. |
Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
<Task 1 On to Task 3>
Visit more sites and sample blogs to define blogs and formulate ideas for using blogs–for yourself and with your students. (more…)
Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
<Conclusion back to Introduction>
WebQuest Inspiration:
This WebQuest is an updated revision of A WebQuest–Blogs and RSS, a WebQuest created in 2004. I have used the basic structure, revising it to fit the goals of this WebQuest. I’ve changed many of the links since link rot has crept throughout many of the included resources and recommended sites.
Images:
All images are free downloads from Microsoft.com. Some images have been mashed with text using PowerPoint 2007. I also used PowerPoint 2007 to create the nameplate on the front page. To learn how to use PowerPoint to create awesome yet easy-to-make graphics for your blog or site, check out this post.
Go to Introduction →
Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
April 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment
| With your group, view and complete the Process Rubric. |
Process Evaluation
Use these questions and rubric to evaluate your learning during the WebQuest.
- What are the key characteristics of a blog?
- How might blogs be used by educators, or in the classroom?
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| Lesson Plan Rubric |
Product Evaluation
The purpose of this activity has been to acquaint you with the concepts of blogs and blogging, have you create a blog and design a lesson that integrates blogging.
- What further work do you need to do to improve your blog?
- Does your lesson effectively engage students in meaningful blogging?
- Is there any changes or improvements you need to make?
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Reflection
Consider the following questions as your reflect upon your learning.
- How could you use blogging in your instruction?
- Would this practice benefit your students?
- What hurdles might stand in the way (of using blogging in your instruction)?
- What would it take to remove the hurdles?
- What resources can you use to keep learning independently?
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Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
April 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment
<back to Task On to Task 2>
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For this portion of the task, you will work within your group to analyze several blogs.Take a few minutes to look at the blogs to the left (each opens in a new window). As you look at some of the blogs, discuss the following with your group:
- What common features do you notice among the blogs?
- How are the blogs organized? What information is in the sidebar(s)? Atop the home page? At the bottom of the home page?
- What primary differences do you notice among the blogs?
- Are there differences in the number and types of authors for the blogs?
- Are there differences in the purposes of the blogs? How are the blogs being used?
- How might you categorize the different types of blogs?
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On to Task 2 →
Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
One Web 2.0 tool that allows you and your students to become 21st Century consumers, collaborators, and creators is the blog.
Your task in this WebQuest includes three steps:
- With a small group you will analyze several different blogs to complete the following tasks:
- describe the key features of a blog
- explain ideas for how blogs might be used in education
- brainstorm ways you could use a blog in your current position
2. Work individually to create a blog of your own.
3. Create a lesson plan for using blogs with your students and post to your blog.
Go to
Process →
Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
<WebQuest Home Task>
In a 2000 study, 84 percent of young adults age 18-24 reported they were more likely to use the Internet to retrieve useful information than to go to a public library. Teenage Life Online; Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2000
A 2002 study revealed that students age 5-18 perceive the Internet as a “virtual locker, backpack, and notebook.” The Digital Disconnect; Pew Internet and America Life Project, 2002
A 2007 study revealed “93% of teens use the internet, and more of them than ever are treating it as a venue for social interaction – a place where they can share creations, tell stories, and interact with others.” Teens and Social Media: Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2007
As an educator, how do you use the Internet?
Are you consuming information, collaborating with educators around the globe, creating multimedia products?
How are your students–in your classroom–using the Internet?
Are they consuming information, collaborating with peers and experts around the globe, creating multimedia products?
Go to
Task →
Tags: Blogging 101 WebQuest
