Blogging for Learning - nhcmtc.org · Choosing a Blogging Platform Option Pros Cons Blogger...
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Blogging for Learning: Using student blogs to replace traditional homework Kelly A. Swindlehurst, PhD
Transcript of Blogging for Learning - nhcmtc.org · Choosing a Blogging Platform Option Pros Cons Blogger...
Blogging for Learning: Using student blogs to replace
traditional homeworkKelly A. Swindlehurst, PhD
Presentation Overview
Setting and Inspiration
Background research and literature
Project overview
Project conclusions
How you can do it too!
Questions and discussion
My Role
Special Education professor at Plymouth
State University
Teach a three course sequence in special
education and classroom management
Integrate technology into the classroom
Setting and Inspiration
Want to increase student engagement,
especially with reading
Increase volume of technology practice
Simplify, simplify, simplify
Related to a move to Open Educational
Resources and $ saving
Background
Pre-service teachers who use technology
are more prepared to teach with it
Use of weblogs in K-12 and higher
education settings has exploded
Phenomenon has been studied extensively
Research says that blogs can. .
Increase student reflection
Help continue class discussion
Allow instructors to support learning
Encourage reluctant learners
Create personal learning space for students
Identify points of confusion and misunderstanding early and often
Project Overview
Be clear on purpose
Choosing a blogging platform
Developing a system
Implementing
Evaluating and adjusting
Choosing a Blogging PlatformOption Pros Cons
Blogger (through google) • Can link to google classroom • If you don’t have a school
gmail, you must use your
personal account
• Same for students
Wordpress • Easy to navigate
• Can set up multiple blogs
under the same website (i.e.
different sections or classes)
• Largely free
• Can be cumbersome to learn
to use
Edublogs • Might be really great for a K-
12 classroom teacher
• Can easily organize and track
a class of students
• Can create multiple classes
• Many features are paid
Developing a System
Creating a class blog
Developing a System
Student blogs
Developing a System
Questions posed each day
Developing a System
Students answer question
Implementation
Give students overview
Class time to create blog and write first
post
Practice commenting
Easy initial post
Important
Teach and model independent problem
solving
Be flexible
Be flexible
Be open to new ideas and suggestions
Problems I solved that I didn’t
know I hadDifferentiating
Addressing student confusion
Connecting and relationship building with
students
Conclusions
What it can do
What it cannot do
When it doesn’t work
For Further Exploration
Questions
Discussion
