Blogging Rubric

I love this blogging rubric I found online from Kathleen Morris. It will be really useful for both teachers and students to assess where they are at and where they need to go to next to become an effective 'blogger' or how they can share their learning, make connections with others in an effective way.

Educational Blogging Rubric by Kathleen Morris

Adding a blog link list on your class blog

Sorry, the sound didn't publish!!! I'll try to get it to work.....

A twitter friend asked me to record this quick video on how to upload a link list of each of my students blogs to our class blog, like the picture below. 

I hope this video is useful! 

My interview/discussion with Gwynneth

Gwynneth took a break from researching and drinking coffee in the sun (her words not mine) and came in today  to talk and interview some chn and teachers about ICT - particularly student voice and blogging and how it supports chn's learning.

After she interviewed 3 chn from my class it was interesting to hear what Gwynneth found out. My chn talked about how yes, recording their voice was important because other people could hear what they have to say and what they are learning.
They really thought when others comment on their blog it helps with their own learning because they can improve their work.
They thought the "Wow" comments and "I liked your photos" were not good enough comments and they want feedback and feed word comments so they can improve their work and then reply back to the commenter. I think I must have drilled this into them that a good quality comment should include a positive comment and what they enjoyed (feedback) and something to work on (feedforward) or a question to start a conversation!!!

Gwynneth talked about our blogs (E-Journals) at Vardon being showcase portfolios and also process portfolios. We, chn and teachers,  are really trying to "showcase" our chn's learning and also show the process as we go.

One thing I am going to try out is after modelling and teaching a writing group, instead of the chn writing their draft writing in the books they will write straight into their blogs. They can then proofread and edit and the publish straight away without MY CHECKING. "Argg" This breaks my #1 rule - check with a teacher before you click publish. BUT there is a different purpose for doing a piece of draft writing... anyone who views this child's blog, of course it will definitely be me their teacher and their classmates and buddy class, and I'm hoping other teachers and chn around the globe, can give this child feedback and feedforward. I am then going to model and teach how to go back and re-work their post and re-publish. The they can reply to the commenter to let them know they have listened to their feedback.
We do this in writing books so why not open it up and get a wider audience.

I'll let you know how it goes....

Teaching Commenting Skills

These are links I found on twitter.

http://threefourlonnie.global2.vic.edu.au/how-to-comment/ Here is the link to the blog with the above poster.

Click on the link under this picture to go to a great site on how to teach commenting skills to your class.
I believe it is essential to teach and model good commenting skills, just like we do in maths, reading writing etc.

http://educational-blogging.wikispaces.com/How+To+Teach+Commenting+Skills

My thoughts on teaching commenting skills.....

I already use my morning oral language time to teach and model commenting skills to my class. I enjoy using my morning oral language time as what we are talking about is relevant, useful and chn can relate to what is happening on the blogs we view, or it starts a great conversation if we need further clarification e.g; looking at a blog about romans (england quad blog).

I believe that modeling a good quality comment is essential. Chn can then use the modeling to then write then own good quality comments. I often use our buddy classes blog or our quad blogging buddies blog to model writing comments.

I find after a modeling session chn are putting their hands up and asking if they can then go away and write a comment on someones blog... which proves it's all worthwhile!

with your writing programmes?

A teacher actually came to me at school yesterday (holiday time) and asked if a child in my class would have written a comment on her class blog during the holidays! If it was this particular child then I am so impressed!

My goal is to encourage more commenting at home; after school, weekends and holiday time!

Why comment?

I think chn see relevance in what they are doing when others are making comments on their work. Just like in class with chn's work books.... if you, as a class teacher, or chn as peers are providing comments; feedback and feedforward about their learning this only builds upon chn's current knowledge and then they improve from there.

Commenting on bogs is the same as providing feedback and feedforward only in a different format so chn then feel more motivated and excited out writing on their own blogs which therefore increase their motivation for writing and hopefully their actual writing skills.

I would love your thoughts on the above.....

Setting up class blogs

A great link above on setting up class blogs. Some of these steps we followed when we set up our blogs but we need to have another look at blogging rules.... which is what our ICT club is on to at the moment.

I think we as teachers really need our vision clear and the purpose about why we are blogging. We can then begin to integrate blogging into the curriculum.

We are also looking at ways to inform pur parents and get them commenting on our blogs. I'm hoping we can target a big bunch of parents at our E-journals night in a couple of weeks.

I also can't wait to start e-mailing parents about certain blogs posts and getting them hooked in that way! :)

Teaching Commenting

I believe it is crucial to teach our students how to write a comment and develop these important skills before they comment on blogs.
We expect chn to do certain things in the writing books so its just the same expectations for writing on blogs and also writing comments.
This article has great ideas on how to teach commenting... My goal for my class this term is to develop a set of criteria on how to write a good quality comment. I would love them to video themselves modeling how to write a good comment and post this on their blogs (e-journals).
Thanks to Katheleen Morris for this article.

Using Twitter as a PLN

Well, I've been tweeting now for about 5 weeks, ever since I went to a session called "A tweet for a teacher" at Ulearn11.
At the start I wasn't convinced but... I have made a complete 180 degree spin on the whole idea of twitter.

I am using twitter as a PLN (professional learning network). I have already made contact with other schools and teachers.

So far....

• I have signed my class up for quadblogging - links with other blogs around the works with a ficus on quality commentng!


• made my class blog available for commenting and viewing - so far views from 6 countries across the globe!


• comments have been made on my class blog and on Toby's e-journal - Toby actually said "I want people from other countries to make comments?" and now that has happened... can't wait for his to read them tomorrow at school!

I can definitely see the benefit in having a twitter account now!!! Unfortunately twitter is blocked at school?!?

http://ideasfactory.me/using-twitter-the-pln-in-education

Private verses public blogging.....

One thing I have thought a lot about lately is making our class blog public. Everyone I talk to has a public blog and the ones you search for on the Internet have so many visitors from all over the world.

I went to a course at Ulearn on "A tweet for a teacher" and now I can say with pride I am on twitter!! Not to tweet what I am watching on t.v or where I am but tweeting as PLN. I have already make connections with a teacher in Auckland who has made a comment on our class blog... they are studying the same topic this term.... there's a huge pro for making blogs public!!!

Other Pros...
an authentic audience, comments from a range of people, making new connections across the globe, making our posts meaningful....
Cons...
???? Are there any???

I know some people think you should not put names next to photos, problems with parents viewing other children's work.... are these real problems? In todays world with facebook, twitter, youtube faces and names are all over the place. Are we being too protective?

I would LOVE to know your thoughts.... make a comment.... a thought-provoking comment :)

Blogging support!!!

http://bling4yrblog.blogspot.com/

I found this great website with helpful tips on how to blog!! I'm going to sit done and have a good read through and see what helpful tips I can use for my class blog!!!