This document discusses using blogging to support student learning. It provides information about blogging platforms like Kidblog that are used in ELANCO schools. Blogging allows for developing communication skills through reflection and two-way discourse. It provides an authentic writing experience as students can revise compositions and share them with real audiences. Blogging also promotes digital citizenship and collaboration. Setting guidelines around sharing, approvals, and commenting can help prepare students for blogging. When integrated across content areas and allowing for connections, blogging can be taken to a higher level.

1. 12-2-13
Elanco
Blogging
for learning

2. Welcome!
Please reference this site to support your
learning today:
!
tinyurl.com/dec2blogging

4. !
What does it mean to write in digital spaces?
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How do we use writing to support learning?
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How do we prepare our students to use digital
environments that most likely will be the majority (if
not only) platform that they will be working in and
with?
Source: Silvia Tolisano

5. A blog...
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is a method of communication
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is a website with entries called posts
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encourages the exchange of ideas
includes features such as comments, hyperlinked
text and other media to increase user interactivity
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is easy to set up and maintain!

6. In ELANCO…
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Students use the Kidblog platform (Gr. 2-6)
Teachers have Kidblog spaces and can post and/or can
utilize the Wordpress platform for home-school
communication purposes
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7. http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/09/14/blogs-vs-static-websites/

8. http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/09/14/blogs-vs-static-websites/

9. Why blog?
• Develop and strengthen communication skills
• Great platform for reflection
• Interactive: two-way communication and discourse
encouraged
• A “real” writing experience - opportunities for revised
compositions and shared with authentic audience
• Promotes digital citizenship and building a positive
digital footprint
• Collaborative opportunities and global connections

11. Setting the stage.
http://suewaters.com/tag/blogging-cycle/

12. Preparing students.

13. Image: Rodd Lucier

14. Parents as partners.

15. global connections
Image: Pernille Ripp

16. To consider:
• Sharing permissions
• Approval processes for posts and comments
• Managing and sharing feeds - RSS is your friend
• Topic choices, commenting requirements, content area
connections
• Taking blogging to the next level: connections, creative
writing, ePortfolios

17. “I think the biggest tip that I'd have for classroom teachers interested in building
interest in blogging among their students would be to see blogging as
something more than just a place for students to post stand-alone thoughts.
For me, the power in blogging rests not in what I write alone, but in the
reactions that others have to my writing and in my efforts to read and
respond to the thoughts of others.
Accomplished bloggers seek out others who are wrestling with common areas of
interest, primarily because opportunities to interact with ideas is motivating. One
of the tenets of constructivism is that true learning only takes place when
deeply held personal beliefs are challenged by contrary evidence. In those
moments, individuals are forced to refine and revise ideas that they once
held to be true.
In a sense, blogging makes such experiences possible for everyone. It is, in
some ways, a remarkable opportunity for differentiation because writers of
all ages are wrestling with interesting ideas at all times. With a bit of poking
around, challenging content can be found for anyone.”
Bill Ferriter