May 11 - Final blogging class

http://www.crunchbase.com/assets/images/original/0007/4101/74101v1.jpg



For our final class we will find a place to store documents to link to in our blog posts. See example here

I suggest that we use Box.net  (http://www.box.net/).  This is a site that makes it easy to share, manage and access files online.

Let's follow the instructions to set up an account, upload a document and link to it in your blog.  Let's go!

I hope that each of you had a good experience with your internal professional development in Term 2 and that this class gave another tool to add to your teacher's toolkit.  Remember that this blog is always avalible as a tool;-) If I can be of further assistance to you, please drop by the CT room or email me.  I will be happy to help.

April 13

It's easy to add a gadget (link list, text, video, html, etc.) to your blog.  This is the logical place for stand alone information, images,  and links to units of work, examples, pertinent reference materials: information that you want the students to have easy access to.

Click on Design, locate your sidebar, then click on Add a Gadget.  You can then explore all the free options that Blogger offers;-)

http://buzz.blogger.com/2008/07/spice-up-your-blog-with-google-gadgets.html

* Remember that you can add the Learning Objectives for each task. 

Learning Objective - The teacher will: learn how to add pertinent information to the sidebar.

April 6

What Are Pages?

According to Blogger

"Blogger pages let you to publish static information on stand-alone pages linked from your blog. For example, you can use pages to create an About This Blog page that discusses the evolution of your blog, or a Contact Me page that provides directions, a phone number, and a map to your location."  http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?answer=165955

This is quite a handy tool when you would like to have information that is readily available.

Example:  Year 7 Blog,   Year 8 Blog,    Year 9 Blog

Now, it's your turn;-)

Learning objective - The teacher will: learn the value of Pages and how to create them.

March 16, 23

Welcome back edubloggers.  Now you have a blog so let's begin to add content, pictures, links and YouTube videos.

It's easy! Let's go!

1.  Create a post: http://www.box.net/shared/1o9th3dj0a

2.  Add images: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swVAc5FwOos

3.  Add links: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-blogger-to-add-a-link-to-your-blog.seriesId-90418.html

4.  Add YouTube videos:  http://www.box.net/shared/8t2xm02c28

Don't forget that you can leave any questions, comments, or suggestions at the bottom of the blog post;-)

Learning Objective  -  The teacher will: learn how to add content, images, links, and videos to enhance their workspace and engage students.

March 2

I was introduced to blogging in 2005 when I was an EFL teacher working at the Portuguese Navy.

Types of blogs used in language teachingAaron Campbell (2003) has outlined three types of blogs for use with language classes:

• The Tutor Blog is run by the teacher of a class. The content of this type of blog can be limited to syllabus, course information, homework, assignments, etc. Or the teacher may choose to write about his or her life, sharing reflections about the local culture, target culture and language to stimulate online and in-class discussion. In this type of blog, students are normally restricted to being able to write comments to the teacher's posts. An example of a tutor blog: http://ois-it11.blogspot.com/  Students can connect with the teacher and others through the use of comments:  http://ois-it7.blogspot.com

• The Class Blog is a shared space, with teacher and students being able to write to the main area. It is best used as a collaborative discussion space, an extra-curricular extension of the classroom. Students can be encouraged to reflect in more depth, in writing, on themes touched upon in class. Students are given a greater sense of freedom and involvement than with the tutor blog. An example of a class blog: http://module4-l.blogspot.com/

• The Learner Blog is the third type of blog and it requires more time and effort from the teacher to both set up and moderate, but is probably the most rewarding. It involves giving each student an individual blog. The benefit of this is that this becomes the student's own personal online space. Students can be encouraged to write frequently about what interests them, and can post comments on other students' blogs. An example of a learner blog: http://madalenaprocessjournal.blogspot.com

source:  http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/articles/blogging-elt


How to create a blog with Blogger.com

Learning objective - The student will:  gain an understanding of the kinds of educational blogs and learn how easy it is to create a blog.