This document describes several gadgets that can be used in an educational blog: 1. A slideshow gadget to display images related to topics being studied. 2. A poll gadget to get student input and allow analysis of poll results. 3. A list gadget to provide students access to reading materials and other resources. 4. A search gadget to allow students to search past blog posts and materials. 5. A text formatting gadget to draw attention to directions, questions, and information. 6. A link gadget to provide easy access to digital resources and external sites. 7. A news feed gadget to spark discussion topics related to class topics

1. What is it? This gadget that will run a slideshow if any set of images you select when the user accesses
your blog.
How can I effectively use this? It is important to connect the topic with a visual cue for recall
You can use images to help your students process the topic you are studying. You can present a group
of images related to a specific topic of study and have the students blog about what this topic might be.
Directions: Look at this weeks slideshow and respond with how you think these images are related as
well as how they relate to what we are studying in class. Also, please reply to 3 other classmates posts
with insightful and though provoking questions such as ‘”I can see how you would have come up with
this answer. I agree with you that ________________, why didn’t you consider _______________.
Great post by the way.

2. What is it? This gadget will allow you to poll visitors to your blog based on a question you ask.
How can I effectively use this? Having students analyze poll results will allow them to strengthen their
ability to identify and articulate trends.
Directions: Please respond to the question I asked at the end of the class period today by participating
in the Poll (insert title or poll question here). After you responded please look at the results of the poll
so far. After viewing the results, please enter the discussion topic (insert discussion title related to the
poll question here) and discuss your analysis of the results and how that relates to what we discussed in
class. What about the results surprised you? Why?
Also, please reply to 3 other classmates posts with insightful and though provoking questions such as ‘”I
can see how you would have come up with this answer. I agree with you that ________________, why
didn’t you consider _______________.
Great post by the way.

3. What is it? This gadget will give your students instant access to any list you make. You can even
hyperlink the items in your list.
How can I effectively use this? You can link to reviews, or links about the books or other outside
readings or resources for your students. You can even link to Amazon if they are planning on purchasing
the books or other study aids themselves.
Directions: Please click on the book you are planning on reading from the list below.

4. What is it? This gadget allows users to search your blog based on key words.
How can I effectively use this? This would be a great addition to your blog space as it would allow
student to search for past posts, posts by particular users, or even material you have uploaded or
imbedded into the site.

5. What is it? This gadget allows you to do some fancy things with your text so it stands out.
How can I effectively use this? You could decide on a color scheme for particular portion of your blog.
For example, your directions could be in black, your questions blue, general information green and so
on. You can even change the font style and font size as needed. This can even be done within a post.
Just make sure you set parameters for your students so they don’t go crazy with this gadget.

6. What is it? This gadget allows you to link your important sites to your blog for easy navigation.
How can I effectively use this? This can be a list of the digital resources used in your course. Allowing
students access to this list will keep them from having to write down web address or failing to navigate
to the correct page. This gadget will also improve the flow of your online extension activities and the
student will be able to move in and out of your blog and external sites without getting lost.

7. What is it? This gadget allows you to stream current headlines from Google News directly to your
students through your blog.
How can I effectively use this? You can use this gadget to get students started blogging with Blogger.
This could function as extension activities as they relate to the topics you are studying.
Directions: Please look at the news reel and choose one headline to discuss as a reply to the (insert title
of your post here) post. You must discuss how this event relates to what we are discussing in class or
how it relates to what your classmates have been posting about.
Also, please reply to 3 other classmates posts with insightful and though provoking questions such as ‘”I
can see how you would have come up with this answer. I agree with you that ________________, why
didn’t you consider _______________.
Great post by the way.

8. What is it? This gadget allows you to have your students sign in to the blog.
How can I effectively use this? This gadget obviously helps with security and controlling who can see
and/or access your blog.