4TVirtualCon presentation. Blogging Reasons: Why should I blog? http://4tvirtualcon.soe.umich.edu/

1. Blogging Reasons:
Why should I blog?
Suzanne Porath
LitProfSuz@gmail.com
Twitter: @LitProfSuz
http://heartofateacher.blogspot.com/
Doctoral Candidate UW -Madison
6th Grade Humanities
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Madison Country Day School

2. What's your experience?
Poll: What is your experience with blogs?
• What's a blog? (None)
• I know what they are, but don't use.
• I've read a few.
• I'm a blogger.
• I use them with my students.
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

3. Purpose of this presentation
Convince you that blogs are useful
teaching and learning tools
Provide examples and resources for
blogging both personal and professional
NOT – to teach you how to blog
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

4. Why should I blog?
Reflection
Shows growth and change over time
Broader audience
Extends communication
Multimedia
Expands the classroom
Intentional internet identity
Professional Learning Network (PLN)
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Fun

5. Space for Reflection
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First,
by reflection which is the noblest; Second by
imitation which is the easiest; and third by
experience, which is the bitterest.” ~Confucius
“Reflection is an important human activity in
which people recapture their experience, think
about it, mull over and evaluate it. It is this
working with experience that is important in
learning” (Boud, Keogh & Walker, 1985, p. 43)
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

6. Reflection
• Schön (1983) – reflection-in-action, on-
action
Experience-Reflection-Action (Rolfe et al,
2001)
– What? So what? What next?
Collaborative reflection (Bright, 1996)
In the chat: How might writing your
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
reflections in a blog (private or public) be
useful?

7. Reflection - Examples
• Atychiphobia – Reflections of a 4th Grade
Teacher
http://keeferto.typepad.com/blog/
Scroll down to “Uncommon Core”
Blogging for Reflection (Student
examples)
http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/yisitd/2011/12/14/blogging-for
Click on one of the student's names
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

8. Reflection - Resources
Blogging with Students for Reflection,
Collaboration, and Literacy
http://chip-chase.com/2012/02/08/blogging-with-s
30 Goals Challenge (for teachers)
http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2010/02/01
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

9. Articulation of Growth Over Time
Time stamped
Reread past posts
Forms:
Learning Logs
Digital Portfolios
Formative (Working Portfolio)
Summative (Showcase Portfolio)
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Multimedia
(Abrami & Barrett, 2005)

10. Growth Over Time
Poll: How much have you documented your
teaching and classroom over the course of
your career?
• You mean I was suppose to?
• I have my old lesson plan books.
• If I thought about it, I took some pictures.
• Sporadically – depending on the year.
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
• Constantly.

11. Growth Over Time - Examples
Two Writing Teachers
Evolution of Anchor Charts
http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/e
AM Literacy Learning (Learning Log)
http://amliteracylearninglog.blogspot.com/
Te Motu Pukerua Bay (Classroom LL)
http://temotu.blogspot.co.nz/
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

12. Wider Audience
Increased motivation to write
More attention to conventions
Recognition of how audience and purpose
impacts form of writing
Interactive (comments)
(Bruning & Horn, 2000)
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

13. Wider Audience
Poll: In what ways have you connected
your classroom to a wider audience?
• Pen pals (or e-pals)
• Community newspaper/letter
• Sent work out to be published
• Skyped with someone
• Partner classroom project
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

14. Wider Audience
“Build relationships with others to pose and
solve problems collaboratively and cross-
culturally” - NCTE definition of 21st Cent.
Literacies
– Not -simulation, imaginary or RAFT
Determine & target audience
School-Bound Authentic (for school
community)
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
World Authentic (outside of school)
Create conversation w/ comments

15. Audience - Example
Writing + Audience = Blogging (Video)
http://mrsschurscomputerlab.blogspot.com/2012
ESL/EFL Sister Classroom Exchange
http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

16. Communication w/ Parents
& Students
Classroom Blog
Post pictures, videos, podcasts
Post assignments
Daily/weekly
Author
Teacher
Rotating student job
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Be aware of district privacy issues
Can be set to notify via email
(Light & Polin, 2010)

17. Communication
• Mrs. Yollis Classroom Blog (3rd grd)
http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/
• Mr. Avery's Classroom Blog (6th grd)
http://mravery.edublogs.org/
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

18. Synthesize/Capture Multimedia
“Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate
multi-media texts” - NCTE definition of
21st Century Literacies
Typical portfolios are:
Bulky and paper
Static
Read/Write Web
Linking
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Attaching/Embedding

19. Multimedia - Examples
Elementary, My Dear, or Far From It
http://emdffi.blogspot.com/
The Classroom Bookshelf (multiple
resources on books)
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/
Resource
The 12 Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Blog
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/th

20. Expanding Walls
“Design and share information for global
communities to meet a variety of
purposes” NCTE definition of 21st Century
Literacies
Flipped classroom
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/09/the-flippe
Virtual Field Trips
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Link to places – provide space to comment
Connecting to the World

21. Expanding Walls - Examples
14 Steps to Meaningful Student Blogging
http://mrspripp.blogspot.com/2011/05/14-steps-t
Holden's New York City Tour
http://porathenglish10.blogspot.com/2006/02/new
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

22. Expanding Walls -
Resources
Taking It Global
http://www.tigweb.org/
Flat Classroom Project
http://flatclassroomproject.ning.com/
Global Education Conference Network
http://www.globaleducationconference.com/
Epals
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
http://www.epals.com/

23. Intentional Internet Identity
Poll: How many of you Goggle yourself?
• Often
• Sometimes
• Never
• I don't know how
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
In the chat: What have you found? (Rate
My Teacher; School website; personal
info?)

24. Identity
“If you aren't controlling your footprint,
others are.”
Meredith Stewart - http://inforgood.wordpress.com/
“Branding is a method by which you can
create your own unique identity in an
environment overflowing with
competition.”
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Vail Joy -
http://smashinghub.com/creating-your-identity-with-blog

25. Identity - Examples
Two Apples a Day
http://twoapplesaday.org/
Blogging Identity: Anonymity or
Transparency
http://marshrachel.wordpress.com/
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

26. Identity - Resources
Teachers, Take Care Of Your Digital
Identity
http://teachhub.com/teachers-digital-identity
Keeping Your Privacy on the Internet (or
Not)
http://www2.uregina.ca/ctl/2012/02/17/keeping-y
How to Teach Students About Digital
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Identity
http://www.edvoices.com/blog/2012/03/26/studen

27. Professional Learning Network
Purpose:
Connect
Collaborate
Contribute
Face to face is time & money dependent,
online isn't!
Resource
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
23 Resources about Personal Learning Networks
http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2010/05/09/16-re

28. Professional Learning Network
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/
• “literary salon where authors and illustrators stop
by”
Interesting Non-fiction for Kids (multiple
posters & links)
http://inkrethink.blogspot.com/
Reflect & Refine: Building a Learning
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Community
http://reflectandrefine.blogspot.com/

29. Blogging is Fun!
Expressive writing is good for you
(Flaherty, 2005)
Connecting
Sharing
Motivational
• Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own
Online Journal by Tara Frey
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

30. Places to Find Good Blogs
The EduBlog Awards 2011
http://edublogawards.com/
Top 10 Technology Blogs for Education
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/
kathy's ed tech blog picks
http://kathyschrock.net/edtechblogs.htm
Connect-a-Blog:Collaborative K-12
Teacher Blog
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
http://www.connect-a-blog.com/

31. Get your blog on!
“And it occurred to me that there is no such
thing as blogging. There is no such thing as
a blogger. Blogging is just writing —
writing using a particularly efficient type of
publishing technology.” ~ Simon Dumenco
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY

32. References
Abrami, P. C., & Barrett, H. C. (2005). Directions for research and development on electronic
portfolios. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 31(3).
Bond, G.L., & Dykstra, R. (1967). The cooperative research program in first-grade reading
instruction. Reading Research Quarterly, 2, 10–141.
Bright, B. (1996). Reflecting on reflective practice. Studies in the Education of Adults, 28, (2),
162-84
Bruning, R., & Horn, C. (2000). Developing motivation to write. Educational Psychologist, 35,
25-38.
Light, D. & Polin, D. (2010). Integrating Web 2.0 tools into the classroom: Changing the culture
of learning. EDC Center for Children and Technology. Retrieved from
http://cct.edc.org/admin/publications/report/Integrating%20Web2.0.PDF
Layout by orngjce223, CC-BY
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) (eds.) Critical Reflection for Nursing and the Helping
Professions. Basingstoke, U.K: Palgrave.
Schön, D. (1983). The reflective practitioner. Basic Books: New York.