Integrating Blogs/Wikis in Integrating Blogs/Wikis in the Classroom the Classroom

Sarah LlewellynSarah Llewellyn

MeD ETCC MeD ETCC

May 18, 2009May 18, 2009

AgendaAgenda

• What is the Read/Write Web?

• What is a blog? • What is a wiki?• Why are blogs/wikis crucial Why are blogs/wikis crucial

to students’ education?to students’ education?• How do blogs/wikis appeal t

o different learning styles?• What is netiquette? What is netiquette? • How do I keep students safe How do I keep students safe

on the internet? on the internet? • What is the first step? What is the first step?

• How do I create a How do I create a blog/wiki?blog/wiki?

• How do I explain to students?

• Have I overlooked anything?

• How do I grade online How do I grade online activity?activity?

• How do I…?• Blogs to VisitBlogs to Visit• Wikis to Visit• Practice

Read/Write WebRead/Write Web

• User friendlyUser friendly• No longer in HTMLNo longer in HTML• Many programs offer Many programs offer

“How To”’s “How To”’s

• Students are reading Students are reading blogs, news, etc.blogs, news, etc.• Updated infoUpdated info• Seeing multiple opinionsSeeing multiple opinions

• Students are writingStudents are writing• Sharing their own opinionsSharing their own opinions

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What is a Blog?What is a Blog?

• ““Blog” is short for Blog” is short for “Web log”“Web log”

• Online journalOnline journal• Maintained by the Maintained by the

editoreditor• Comments from Comments from

readers readers • Discussion ForumDiscussion Forum• Sample Blog on Wi

kispacesReturn to Agenda

Blog on Wikispace

• Discussion Question First

• Bloggers hit “Reply”

• Bloggers post response

• Everyone can see responses

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What is a Wiki?What is a Wiki?

• Hawaiian for “quickly”Hawaiian for “quickly”

• A collection of pages A collection of pages

• Anyone with access can edit Anyone with access can edit

• Adding and editing Adding and editing collectivelycollectively

• Better than a blog? Better than a blog?

• Group WorkGroup Work

• Sample Wiki on Wikispaces

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Wiki Page on Wikispace

• Each page has – • Discussion

• History

• Notify Me

• Edit Page – click to edit content

• Navigation BarReturn to Agenda

Why are Blogs/Wikis necessary?Why are Blogs/Wikis necessary?

According to Will Richardson, one of the most well-known According to Will Richardson, one of the most well-known proponents of technology integration in the classroom: proponents of technology integration in the classroom:

““We are entering a new interconnected, networked world We are entering a new interconnected, networked world where more and more people are gaining access to the where more and more people are gaining access to the Web and its continually growing body of knowledge. Web and its continually growing body of knowledge. And access doesn’t just mean being able to read what’s And access doesn’t just mean being able to read what’s there; it means being able to create and contribute content there; it means being able to create and contribute content as well” (p. vii).as well” (p. vii).

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Appealing to Different Learning Styles Appealing to Different Learning Styles

• Collaborative LearningCollaborative Learning• Teachers & students working togetherTeachers & students working together• Jointly searching for answersJointly searching for answers• Students exploring, not teacher-centeredStudents exploring, not teacher-centered

• Interactive LearningInteractive Learning• Wikis allow for all involved to editWikis allow for all involved to edit• Online programs for all classesOnline programs for all classes

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Exercises to PracticeExercises to Practice

• Pause TechniquePause Technique

• Think-Pair-Think-Pair-ShareShare

• Posing Posing QuestionsQuestions

• JigsawJigsaw Return to Agenda

What is netiquette?What is netiquette?

• Proper behavior onlineProper behavior online

• ““Flaming”Flaming”

• Diatribes Diatribes

• English conventionsEnglish conventions

• Business-like mannersBusiness-like manners

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How do I keep students safe on the How do I keep students safe on the internet? internet?

• Visit the Visit the Internet Safety wiki for helpful worksheets & info

• Only use usernames or first namesOnly use usernames or first names• Do not allow them to share personal infoDo not allow them to share personal info

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What is the First Step?What is the First Step?

• Start blogging yourselfStart blogging yourself• Teacher interest promotes Teacher interest promotes

student intereststudent interest

• Will see glitches before Will see glitches before students students

• Know the language, i.e. Know the language, i.e. blogger or blogosphereblogger or blogosphere

• Recruit an audienceRecruit an audience• Let students become experts Let students become experts

• Add more classes Add more classes

• Parents’ PermissionParents’ Permission

• Five Don’ts of Blogging Five Don’ts of Blogging Return to Return to Agenda

Permission Form

• Students will “police” themselves

• Incentive for behaving appropriately

• Students & parents understand teacher’s expectations

How do I create a blog/wiki?How do I create a blog/wiki?

• Decide on which medium to useDecide on which medium to use

• Set up an accountSet up an account

• Decide on username & password set-upDecide on username & password set-up

Go back to Go back to Agenda

Mediums

How do I explain to students?How do I explain to students?

• Put in Lay Man’s TermsPut in Lay Man’s Terms• Blogs in Plain English• Wikis in Plain English• Edublogs Teaching Blogs Rules

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Have I overlooked anything?Have I overlooked anything?

• What happens when a child does not have What happens when a child does not have internet access or a computer?internet access or a computer?

• What happens when a student breaks the What happens when a student breaks the established rules of our blog/wiki?established rules of our blog/wiki?

• What happens when a parent does not What happens when a parent does not approve? approve?

• How do I keep discussion educational? How do I keep discussion educational?

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Grading

• Completion or quality? • Making students responsible for

grades• Group Grading

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Blogs to VisitBlogs to Visit

• Will Richardson’s Blog

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Wikis to VisitWikis to Visit

• Please visit the following for more Please visit the following for more interactive practiceinteractive practice

• Internet Safety for Kids

• Ms. Llewellyn Teaches Blogging

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How do I…? How do I…?

• How do I log in?

• How do I navigate the page/space?

• How do I post a discussion/response?

• How do I edit the page?

• How do I use the history page?

• How do I manage the blog/wiki?

• Advanced: how do I create my own space (members, permissions, etc.)?

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How do I log in?

• Follow Instructions on Signing In

Return to “How do I…?”

How do I navigate the page/space?How do I navigate the page/space?

• Create a simple navigation bar with only the necessary pages

• Click “edit navigation” on the left hand side or go into your “manage” page under Site Admin

• Type in your page name surrounded by “[]” (i.e. [Julius Caesar Classwork]

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How do I post a discussion/response?How do I post a discussion/response?

• Create a subject • Type in your question• Click “Post” • Click “Monitor this

Post”

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How do I edit the page?How do I edit the page?

• Click “Edit this Page”

• Webpage will become document

• Type & edit• Click “Save”

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How do I use the history page?How do I use the history page?

• Allows creator and/or users to see edits to pages

• “Policing” tool

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How do I manage the blog/wiki?How do I manage the blog/wiki?• Two Examples: Edublogs &

Wikispaces

• Edublogs:• Called “Site Admin”

• Manage Design, Order, and Comments

• Wikispaces:• Called “Manage Space”

• Manage Content, People, Tools, Etc.

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How do I create my own space?How do I create my own space?

• Coming soon…

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Practice• Visit Ms. Llewellyn Teaches Blogging to:

• Practice setting up/responding to a blog • Using wikis to collaborate • Designing your own blogs/wikis• Get more info about blogs/wikis in the classroom

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ReferencesReferences

• Sturgeon, J. (2008 February). Five don’ts of Sturgeon, J. (2008 February). Five don’ts of classroom blogging. T.H.E. Journal. pp. 26-classroom blogging. T.H.E. Journal. pp. 26-30.30.

• Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

• Collier, J. (2007 Nov). The shift to 21st century literacies. The Council Chronicle. pp. 4-8.