A classroom blog AND a classroom wiki? Show me!_beal
1. A CLASSROOM BLOG AND
A CLASSROOM WIKI?
SHOW ME
Presenter: Fiona Beal
fionabeal@gmail.com
2. Introducing myself
• Web 2.0 ‘fanatic’ and passionate about integrating
the curiculum with technology
• Have taught Grades 1 - 7 and am now the computer
teacher at Fishhoek Primary School.
• Life was revolutionised in 2009 by blogging and
discovering a whole educational community ‘out
there’.
• Winner of Innovative Teacher 2009 in SA. Winning
place in Pan African Finals in Mauritius and
participated in World Finals in Brazil.
• Textbook writer
3. Today’s Outcomes
BLOGS
• Introduction to classroom blogs
• Blogging platforms
• Widgets and gadgets
• Inspiring classroom blogs
• Blogging projects
• Instructional blogs
• Keeping it all together
WIKIS
• Classroom wikis
• Resource wikis
HANDS ON SECTION
6. What is a blog?
A blog is a “personal or corporate website
that allows users to reflect, share opinions,
and discuss various topics in the form of an
online journal, while readers may comment
on posts. Entries typically appear in reverse
chronological order.”
(http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blog)
8. What is a classroom
blog?
This is a two way connection between a
school-based environment and the world.
It allows the world to peek into the school
environment and see what is happening –
and the class to venture into the world and
learn from other classrooms.
There is sharing of thoughts, ideas, events and
resources.
9. Why have a classroom
blog?
• The blogging movement is currently
huge in schools around the world
• We are living in the digital age
• It enables a record of events
• One can change your blog into a book’
• Great collaboration tool
• It’s very easy to start and maintain
• It’s usually free
10. What can you put on a
classroom blog?
• Share news about school
• Share educational games
• Get involved in projects
• Share resources and discoveries
• Upload photos and videos
• Write in many different formats
• Connect with other classrooms
11. Putting widgets on a blog
• Widgets are the little side items one puts on a
blog to make it more interesting.
• Take a look at widgets my classroom blog
http://fionabeal.edublogs.org
12. Types of widgets
• Badges
• Vokis
• Visitors maps
• Counters
• Live traffic feeds
• Contact links
• Twitter widgets
• Other maps
• Google translate
• Blogroll
• Calendar
• Tagcloud
13. Inspiring classroom blogs
It is wonderful to peek into a teacher’s classroom via their
classroom blogs.
Examples:
Grade 1: http://mrspatterson.edublogs.org/
Grade 2: http://2kmand2kj.global2.vic.edu.au/
Grade 3: http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/
Grade 4: http://www.classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=152060
Grade 5: http://trefz.blogspot.com/
Grade 6: http://partlowpowerhouse.edublogs.org/
Grade 7: http://millwardb.edublogs.org/
Middle School: http://tefltecher.wordpress.com/
16. http://ourgradefiveclass.blogspot.com
Claire Tyler-Smith from Cape Town uses a lovely background. She also puts her
class’s term programme down the side bar and takes you on a tour of her
classroom. Very interesting posts, lots of photos, and lovely blogs for her
students as well.
17. http://trefz.blogspot.com/
Mrs Trefz 5th grade blog (USA) uses interesting slideshows and glogsters.
She shows a safe search engine for students called Sweetsearch.com
18. http://year5rc.edublogs.org/
Mrs Miller’s 5th grade blog (Australia) has very interesting posts about what they
learn in class. She shows their novel study on a widget called Shelfari and
makes very interesting use of fotobabbel.com where you can talk about a photo!
20. http://mistea.edublogs.org/
What I like about Miss T’s year 5 and 6 blog in New Zealand is her emphasis
on reading and books. This is where I discovered ‘book trailers’.
38. 5. Posterous blogs
Posterous blogs are great because you can email blog
posts with photos and it will create a post with your
email.
39. 6. Keeping in touch project 2009
Which class: Grade 4-6 computer club
How did I hear about it: I created this idea because
we had quite a few refugee children join our school
and I wanted them to be able to keep in touch with
relatives and friends
Description: The Grade 4&5 bloggers helped me
teach this group to blog
Web 2 and other applications: Edublogs
Audience: Africa
47. Useful Technology blogs
There are a number of blogs that supply teachers
with excellent resources and ideas. Here are just a
few!
• http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
• http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/
• http://ilearntechnology.com/
• http://cffmv.blogspot.com
• http://theedublogger.com/
• http://janeknight.typepad.com/
• http://www.speedofcreativity.org/
79. Where can I find out about
building and using wikis
Help section
80. Useful tutorial video sites
Many teachers have channels with all their videos on them such as:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LearnitN5 . Another interesting group is the
Common Craft videos. On these sites you can learn how to do what you want to do!
88. Handouts
Handouts
• How to create a blog using Edublogs
• How to create a blog using Blogger.com
Shared folder documents
• 11 techy things to do in the new year
