West Bend - School District officials are heading to the blogosphere, after a School Board committee decided Monday to launch an internal blog on the district's curriculum development.
Members of the School Board's Technology Committee said the internal blog is a trial, and if it works out, the district could use blogs as public tools for getting information to parents and students while seeking feedback from them.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Students go online to share results
Blogs, or online journals, are linking people everywhere these days. They are even branching out into school.
Teacher Kelly Green has tapped into blogs as a teaching tool to help students in her seventh-grade science classes at Louis L. Redding Middle School become better readers and writers. She uses an online journal to allow students to share their experiments and discuss science-related topics.
Some people might think practicing reading and writing skills is better suited for English class than science lab. But Green would disagree.
After students collect data from an experiment, for instance, they have to explain their findings in a way others will understand to post those comments on the blog, she said.
Blogging not only lets students at the Middletown school learn to do that, it is something they like to do. There's a keyboard to punch. The words are on a computer screen with colorful pictures. It's a big step up from writing comments and ideas with a boring pencil and piece of paper, or only interacting with each other through raised hands in a classroom.
Green said she sees a difference in how the students are expressing themselves.
"The quietest student that I can't get to say two words in the classroom will write volumes on the computer because they don't feel intimidated about being called out," she said. "They can sit there on their own and put what they think on there. It gives them a huge level of confidence, too, especially students who are special-education students.
"I think it's the familiarity with the technology," Green said. "It is definitely more fun and more interactive. It gives them 90 other students that they can interact with. They also learn that they have a lot more in common with each other than they think."
The trick is to get her students to respond to discussion topics in complete sentences, not with the familiar shorthand that has become so popular in electronic communication, she said. For instance, phrases like "c u l8r" (see you later) and other expressions often dashed off in informal e-mails or text messages are not permitted on the blog.
"We're trying to make them use technology to be more fluent writers and readers," Green said. "They don't get to do that very often. The students tend to write the way they speak, and 99 percent of the time it's not correct."
Slang and misspelled words are OK among their friends, she said. But when the students have to respond to a science question on a state test -- or when they have to write something in the work world -- they need to know how to write properly.
Adult supervision
Green said she monitors her students' blogging comments, correcting them as the need arises. She also makes sure nothing inappropriate goes online.
So far, Green has limited her students to writing comments on a blog she created and runs for her classroom. The four seventh-grade classes can respond either at school or on a home computer.
On one recent post, Green asked her students to write about their favorite science topic -- and it drew 176 comments.
Later this school year, she will give the students an opportunity to create their own blogs. They also will have to read a book on ecology and respond to specific questions about it. The postings won't be accessible to the public, said Green, who will continue to monitor what her students write on the science blogs.
"Kids of today have grown up with computers, so they're much more comfortable with it than kids of 10 years ago were," Green said. "They're also interacting with each other in real time. They don't have to sit for a long time with their hand raised and forget what they're going to say."
So far, the students are enjoying being able to share their ideas online.
"I like being able to converse in the luxury of my own home," said Ryan Christian, 13. "I have tons of time to think about what I want to say instead of running out of time when the teacher moves on. It is also fun getting to read what all of the other students have to say."
"The blogging is very helpful," said Aziah Smith, 12, "especially when we have to do projects. It gives you a way to make easy connections to the information we need."
Blogs, or online journals, are linking people everywhere these days. They are even branching out into school.
Teacher Kelly Green has tapped into blogs as a teaching tool to help students in her seventh-grade science classes at Louis L. Redding Middle School become better readers and writers. She uses an online journal to allow students to share their experiments and discuss science-related topics.
Some people might think practicing reading and writing skills is better suited for English class than science lab. But Green would disagree.
After students collect data from an experiment, for instance, they have to explain their findings in a way others will understand to post those comments on the blog, she said.
Blogging not only lets students at the Middletown school learn to do that, it is something they like to do. There's a keyboard to punch. The words are on a computer screen with colorful pictures. It's a big step up from writing comments and ideas with a boring pencil and piece of paper, or only interacting with each other through raised hands in a classroom.
Green said she sees a difference in how the students are expressing themselves.
"The quietest student that I can't get to say two words in the classroom will write volumes on the computer because they don't feel intimidated about being called out," she said. "They can sit there on their own and put what they think on there. It gives them a huge level of confidence, too, especially students who are special-education students.
"I think it's the familiarity with the technology," Green said. "It is definitely more fun and more interactive. It gives them 90 other students that they can interact with. They also learn that they have a lot more in common with each other than they think."
The trick is to get her students to respond to discussion topics in complete sentences, not with the familiar shorthand that has become so popular in electronic communication, she said. For instance, phrases like "c u l8r" (see you later) and other expressions often dashed off in informal e-mails or text messages are not permitted on the blog.
"We're trying to make them use technology to be more fluent writers and readers," Green said. "They don't get to do that very often. The students tend to write the way they speak, and 99 percent of the time it's not correct."
Slang and misspelled words are OK among their friends, she said. But when the students have to respond to a science question on a state test -- or when they have to write something in the work world -- they need to know how to write properly.
Adult supervision
Green said she monitors her students' blogging comments, correcting them as the need arises. She also makes sure nothing inappropriate goes online.
So far, Green has limited her students to writing comments on a blog she created and runs for her classroom. The four seventh-grade classes can respond either at school or on a home computer.
On one recent post, Green asked her students to write about their favorite science topic -- and it drew 176 comments.
Later this school year, she will give the students an opportunity to create their own blogs. They also will have to read a book on ecology and respond to specific questions about it. The postings won't be accessible to the public, said Green, who will continue to monitor what her students write on the science blogs.
"Kids of today have grown up with computers, so they're much more comfortable with it than kids of 10 years ago were," Green said. "They're also interacting with each other in real time. They don't have to sit for a long time with their hand raised and forget what they're going to say."
So far, the students are enjoying being able to share their ideas online.
"I like being able to converse in the luxury of my own home," said Ryan Christian, 13. "I have tons of time to think about what I want to say instead of running out of time when the teacher moves on. It is also fun getting to read what all of the other students have to say."
"The blogging is very helpful," said Aziah Smith, 12, "especially when we have to do projects. It gives you a way to make easy connections to the information we need."
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
WOAI: San Antonio News - Online Terror Threat Hits Local High School: " Gonzalez said extra police were on hand, and teachers and administrators were in a 'high state of anxiety.'
"
In speaking with teachers and staff in my classes, most are aware of MySpace-dot-com and that their districts don't allow access to it.'
"
In speaking with teachers and staff in my classes, most are aware of MySpace-dot-com and that their districts don't allow access to it.'
21st Century Collaborative: Preservice Teacher Education & Technology: "This blog will be used to explore, exchange, and create ideas around 21st century collaborative learning and virtual learning communities and how these communities can be used to help teachers prepare their students for success in the 21st century."
Monday, November 14, 2005
Timbercrest Junior High - Principal's Blog. This is a blog on a Washington (state) school district web site. It is controlled, monitored, has guidelines posted, and is well-done.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Don't forget to check my other blog : wdug.blogspot.com/. Even though it's more for Web Developer's, you probably will find some interesting articles there. Please feel free to leave your comments. Also, don't forget about the blog resources that I set up. I add more sites to them and welcome your participation in selection of information there.
I think I could do one of these cruises, especially the Alaskan one, although the Mexican Riviera in the middle of February sure looks appealing... Anyone else interested?
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Thursday, September 15, 2005
WebJunction is an online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses - and have fun. Their blog has some interesting articles..
Friday, August 12, 2005
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Be careful and check your computers. Make sure you have a firewall that tracks outgoing data.
Millions of Windows Users at Risk by Massive ID and Bank Account Theft Piggybacking on CoolWebSearch
Millions of Windows Users at Risk by Massive ID and Bank Account Theft Piggybacking on CoolWebSearch
Friday, August 05, 2005
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Every educator knows how time-consuming even the simplest classroom management tasks can be. Here's lots of certificates, name tags, etc., free to download and use in your classroom:
Education World : Teacher Tools & Templates: "
Education World : Teacher Tools & Templates: "
Monday, July 25, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Saturday, July 16, 2005
National Geographic News: The news stories are thematically organized around such familiar topics as animals and nature, health, and the environment. The feature section titled "Pulse of the Planet" is a nice find, along with the "Offbeat" area, which offers a bit of lighter news coverage.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Aimtrac - Track who reads your AIM profile: "What is Aimtrac?
Do you ever wonder who is reading your AIM profile? Chances are people you don't talk to very often, or don't even know, are reading your profile all the time. With Aimtrac you add a simply text link that
reads 'check this out', or anything else you like, and when someone
clicks on it their screenname is logged on our server!"
Do you ever wonder who is reading your AIM profile? Chances are people you don't talk to very often, or don't even know, are reading your profile all the time. With Aimtrac you add a simply text link that
reads 'check this out', or anything else you like, and when someone
clicks on it their screenname is logged on our server!"
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Our agenda for the first meeting on August 19 here at the Conference Center has been set. The order hasn't been determined yet. Coffee and tea will be at 8:30 and we will begin promptly at 9. Remember that registrations are required!
Macromedia will be presenting Contribute and the Contribute Publishing Service. This is an effective, cost-efficient method for districts to publish their web site and retain total control over it.
Rose Malpica, Webmaster for Orange-Ulster BOCES, will show us the latest in Photoshop Elements 3. Mike Kroemer, Cornwall School District, plans on showing us some tricks and tips with Macromedia Fireworks.
This is a workshop for all levels of Webmasters and those new to developping web sites. If you would like to present at our Spring 2006 User Group, please let me know. It's set for April.
Macromedia will be presenting Contribute and the Contribute Publishing Service. This is an effective, cost-efficient method for districts to publish their web site and retain total control over it.
Rose Malpica, Webmaster for Orange-Ulster BOCES, will show us the latest in Photoshop Elements 3. Mike Kroemer, Cornwall School District, plans on showing us some tricks and tips with Macromedia Fireworks.
This is a workshop for all levels of Webmasters and those new to developping web sites. If you would like to present at our Spring 2006 User Group, please let me know. It's set for April.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Finally, an article on blogs in schools that is great! What's in a Blog? is the lead story in this month's American School Board Journal and it does a great job: Cover Story 2
Thank you, ASBJ!!
Thank you, ASBJ!!
Friday, July 01, 2005
Even though this is a business blog, Kim Beasley has some great ideas that carry through to education: Agape3’s Business Blog
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Looks like a book that might help you in classroom blogging and, at $14.25, seems to be a good price: Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to the Blogosphere
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Thanks to Denise O'Barry of www.deniseoberry.com for this great site.
Bloglet (http://www.bloglet.com ) offers email subscriptions to your blog that keep your users coming back and is supported by most major blog sites. This looks really great and, as soon as I get a chance, I am going to add it to my blogs.
Denise also has a Small Business Blog Directory at www.blogsforsmallbusiness.com/ that you may want to check out.
Bloglet (http://www.bloglet.com ) offers email subscriptions to your blog that keep your users coming back and is supported by most major blog sites. This looks really great and, as soon as I get a chance, I am going to add it to my blogs.
Denise also has a Small Business Blog Directory at www.blogsforsmallbusiness.com/ that you may want to check out.
Businesses are now having to deal with employees blogging. Many corporations are instituting Blogging Policies and Codes of Ethics. One good thing about this is that employees know exactly where a company stands in regards to blogging. There have been employees fired at different companies for the contents of their blogs.
You may want to check with your district to see if they have a policy before you start blogging with your classes. Be careful of student privacy as well. First names MIGHT be ok but, to be on the safe side, get district approval first so there are no surprises later!
Charlene Li's Blog: Blogging policy examples
You may want to check with your district to see if they have a policy before you start blogging with your classes. Be careful of student privacy as well. First names MIGHT be ok but, to be on the safe side, get district approval first so there are no surprises later!
Charlene Li's Blog: Blogging policy examples
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Monday, June 20, 2005
PCWorld.com - 30 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do on the Internet: From the July 2005 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Thursday, June 09, 2005
I saw one of these at Kingston Point Beach many years ago. I have photos someplace! I remember it was white...
Amphi-Action Shots - Low Bandwidth
Amphi-Action Shots - Low Bandwidth
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Great site for students if they are thinking about graphic communications as a career. Tour the workplace, meet people, find resources, etc., at this site:
Make Your Mark
Make Your Mark
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Friday, May 20, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
The Education Wonks: Tales From The Trenches: Classroom Teachers Speak
Interesting tidbits and lots of links to other educational discourses.
Interesting tidbits and lots of links to other educational discourses.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Saturday, April 02, 2005
View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards the Earth in successive orders of magnitude:
Molecular Expressions: Science, Optics and You - Secret Worlds: The Universe Within - Interactive Java Tutorial
Molecular Expressions: Science, Optics and You - Secret Worlds: The Universe Within - Interactive Java Tutorial
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Friday, February 18, 2005
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