10 Ways a Website can Transform Your Class
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This document discusses 10 ways that weblogs (blogs) can transform a classroom. It provides examples of how blogs can be used to: 1) improve student writing skills by writing for an authentic audience; 2) showcase student work to a larger audience; 3) promote collaboration and community building; 4) encourage parent participation by providing a "window into the classroom"; and 5) connect the classroom to the global community. Specific strategies are presented, such as creating a class Twitter or Facebook page, Instagram account, YouTube channel, or sharing student blogs and Animoto videos. Blogs are suggested as a way to improve students' technology skills, receive instant feedback, and develop digital literacy.
10 Ways a Website can Transform Your Class
- 1. 10 ways webblogs will Transform your class ©Dianne St. Clair 2 3 65 87 9 1 4
- 2. ways to Teach Using Websites ©Dianne St. Clair 2 3 65 87 9 2 4
- 3. Reluctant writers write for a purpose Make blogging a part of your literacy curriculum to teach English conventions. Skills improved Engagement levels increased Students use web blogs to purposefully communicate and converse with others. IMPROVEDLITERACY 3
- 4. ©Dianne St. Clair Share what you do with the world. Photos of projects, announcements Students become published artists, photographers, writers, and producers! Websites provide a much larger audience for student work and provides an avenue for feedback and self-improvement through commenting. Anything that you post to your blog will instantly be accessible by your students from school and from home. You can easily manage who gets to access them through passwords and privacy measures. authentic audience 4
- 5. classroom Creating a class website requires teamwork and collaboration. Students and teachers learn and share together. Builds class identity builds community 5
- 6. Encourage parent participation A class website is a “window into the classroom” Parents have real time access to their child’s education connection 1. Use a Twitter Hashtag or Create a Class FaceBook Page 2. Create a Class Instagram Account 3. Post Content Videos & Tutorials to a YouTube Channel 4. Embed Animoto Videos 5. Share a Master List of Student Blogs home- school 5 strategies to consider: 6
- 7. connection 1. Use a Twitter Hashtag or Create a Class FaceBook Page Post announcements, share pictures, and connect parents to resources and documents online. Tip: Using Twitter? You don’t need to follow your students’ parents, just add them to a list “Parents 2014-2015.” Using Facebook? You do not need to friend you parents for them to follow a Facebook page you’ve created for your class. home- school 7
- 8. 2. Create a Class Instagram Account Make it possible for parents to see what your students are doing in the classroom. Portfolio Post pictures Tip: If you are using Instagram and plan to have a public account where you will post pictures of your students, you need your parents to sign a photo release form. Like Twitter and Facebook, you do no need to follow any parents or students with your class Instagram account. connectionhome- school 8
- 9. 3. Post Content Videos & Tutorials to a YouTube Channel If you flip your classroom and provide video content online for students, parents can watch the videos too. This provides parents with the tools to support their students as they work on an assignment. Tip: Organize your videos into “playlists” so they are easier for your parents to navigate. For example, I have essay writing videos in their own playlist and vocabulary videos in another playlist. connectionhome- school 9
- 10. 4. Share Animoto Videos Animoto is easy! Take photos of students working on projects to share with parents via short videos. Tip: You can create a simple Animoto video just using your phone. Use the Animoto app to create a polished video with your phone in minutes! connectionhome- school 10
- 11. 5. Share a Master List of Student Blogs connectionhome- school 11
- 12. ©Dianne St. Clair Your classroom website has global impact. Your whole curriculum or a single page is just a click and an email away. global connections 12
- 13. confidence Blogging can help certain individuals to practice their skills and transfer them into the “offline world”. Here is an article on how students with ASD and confidence issues can improve their skills here. IMPROVEs 13
- 14. Blogging helps students to become more ICT literate - a crucial 21st century skill. tecHnology skills 14
- 18. LINKS you’ll LOVE Creating a Science Classroom Blog - This resource lists seven reasons science teachers should use classroom blogs and provides tips for setting up a basic blog within 20 minutes. Using Blogs in the Classroom (PDF) – This guide lists eight different ways students can use blogs in the classroom and provides tips for using the right blogging platform. Using Blogs to Improve Literacy – This article gives several examples of successful classroom blogs and discusses how blogging can help improve student literacy. Blogs as Prewriting Tools – Dr. Nicole Luongo discusses the use of classroom blogs by language arts educators. Integrating Technology with Blogs – This article highlights the importance of classroom blogs in helping students develop technology skills. Digital Literacy and Safety - This resource addresses some of the safety issues associated with the use of technology in an educational setting. Integrating Vlogs in the Classroom – This guide lists some of the ways teachers can use vlogs to enhance digital literacy. Using Your Edublog to Teach – Edublogs gives ten different ways to use blogs in the classroom. 7 Things to Know About Blogs (PDF) – Educause explains why blogging is such a useful tool for educators. Teaching with Glogster – This resource gives tips for using Glogster in a classroom setting. Glogster Benefits – Emory University gives several benefits of using Glogster for creating interactive posters. Find Educator Tools – Search for digital literacy tools by keyword, subject area, or skill. Podcasting in and Out of the Classroom – This guide offers information about selecting a recording tool and using podcasting in the classroom. Podcasting Beyond the Classroom – This article explains how podcasting can motivate students to do their best work. Digital Literacy Lesson – This lesson helps students develop digital literacy skills while learning about historical events and figures. Skills for 21st Century Learners (PDF) – This report discusses the importance of bridging the digital divide. 18