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Blog
Using a blog is one of the easiest ways to publish on the web. People use blogs to share their ideas and reflections on a vast array of topics. As a collaborative space, they provide an outlet for expression and a mechanism for visitors to easily post their comments. Teachers also use classroom blogs to share with parents and other stakeholders what is happening in their classrooms. Students can be engaged with a blog as a platform for developing their writing skills and an outlet for expression. Publishing a classroom blog provides learners with a real audience for their work, and that can be very motivating. To learn more about blogging, take this quick tour.
Assignment
Create your own blog using Blogger. To get started, watch this video tutorial. You'll need to sign-in with a Google account.
Publish at least four posts on topics related to technology in education (beyond simply recounting the activities in this class). For inspiration, follow related links from class lectures, RWLDs, or any other source. See related links below for additional inspiration.
Observe the specific requirements and optional resources below. Submit the URL (address) of your blog's home page to the Assignments area in eLearning.
Requirements
- Publish at least four postings on topics related to technology in education.
- Each post must be at least 75 words (that’s about 7 sentences)
- Each post must include at least one hyperlink to a related website.
- Each post must include an image (embedded in the post, not just a hyperlink)
- At least one post must include a video (again, embedded in the post, not just a hyperlink)
- You may certainly go beyond these minimum requirements! Actually, we hope you do!
Related Resources
- Blogger Quick Tour
- Video Tutorial: How to create a blog with Blogger
- Blogger Lab Outline
- Blogger Help
- Copyright Law: 12 Dos and Don'ts for Bloggers
If you need inspiration for your blog posts, explore some of the links below and to the right (recent bookmarks tagged "unietd").
- edutopia.org (George Lucas Educational Foundation)
- Edublogs We Love: Ten Top Stops for Internet Interaction (from edutopia.org)
- Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom
- Taylor's Day Photo Essay (how a 5th grader uses his handheld computer throughout a typical day at school)
- Learning in Hand by Tony Vincent (info about handhelds, podcasting, mobile web, etc.)
- Tony Vincent's Blog
- Suffern Middle School in Second Life
- Second Life with Autism
- The inventor behind CNN's election 'Magic Wall'
- The Partnership for 21st Century Skills
- Global Kids Digital Media Initiative
- iEARN - International Education and Resource Network
- SE Polk Senior High School students describe the model classroom four years from now (scroll down to #3)
- FutureLab
- The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Project
- Horizon Report 2009 K12 Edition
Points: 40
INTASC Standards 9 Point Structure:
At least four separate postings related to the field of technology in education
- reflect on a subject related to technology in education
- include a hyperlink to relevant sources to support the reflection
- include an image
32
At least one post includes an embedded video 4 Copyrighted materials cited and lawfully used 4 Post less than 75 words (-8 each) Spelling and grammar (-1 each up to 10 %) Correct blog's homepage URL submitted to the assignment dropbox (10 %) Special Notes:
- Submit the URL (address) of your blog's home page to the Assignments area in eLearning. Copy & paste the URL to the Submissions box of Assignments. Do not attach any files.
- Posts with less than 75 words will not receive any points.
Page updated: November 10, 2009
Ed Tech & Design Instructors, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction, University of Northern Iowa
