Blogging
Overview
Blogging provides students with authentic writing and collaboration experiences by providing a forum for sharing their ideas and interacting with others both inside and outside the classroom. Students can access Blogger via their Google Apps for Education accounts. Watch the video below for answers to these questions:
What is a blog? How does it work?
Why should my students blog?
Other Things To Consider
Set-up
In class activity? When are students setting up blogs?
Student "experts" to help other students
It's helpful if the teacher has gone through the process (Hint, hint!)
Management
Lesson Implementation
Blogging projects are great, but it's important to set up the project with clear instructions so students understand the expectations.
Introduce the assignment
Discuss the purpose of blogging
Review assignment requirements
Show examples! Examples of good blogs, posts, and comments are really helpful
Set up blogs
Start blogging
Ask for feedback - When the project is done, ask students what went well and what could be changed for next time
Activities and Student Examples
Classroom Blogs
Teacher Blog instead of a website
Student Blogs
20% Time - Ongoing Project Reflection
21st Century Lit Circles
Examples
Authentic Audiences
Most writing assignments are only seen by the teacher. When students begin writing for a larger audience, their work becomes more meaningful. This often translates to better quality writing. When students know there is the possibility that the whole world can see what their doing, they take more ownership in what they present!
Examples of real-world interactions:
In 2014 the Literature Circle Blogs project was promoted on social media (Twitter, Google +, etc.) and many students received followers and comments from outside the classroom. This is a comment from a San Diego educator along with a reply from a student:
When a student from one of the blogging groups decided to tweet the author of the book, The Sea of Tranquility, she never imagined she would get a response. Not only did the author tweet her back, but she also checked out their blog!
