Theres A World Outside My Classroom

There’s a world outside my classroom…blogs and wikis in MFL teaching

Helena Butterfieldhttp://helenabutterfield.net

@langwitch

A bit about me…!

MFL Teacher International Co-ordinator Former Head of Department Blogger at

http://helenabutterfield.net and http://langwitch.org

What we will do today

What is a blog? Why blog? How to set up a blog Some useful blogs What is a wiki…and why is it

different from a blog?

What is a blog?

•A website that can be easily and frequently updated without using complicated software. •They contain:

Fresh content; many are updated daily

Personal content; many blogs are public diaries, journals of everyday events

Why blog?

CommunicationWith pupils, with parents, with

other teachers Presentation of pupils’ work Motivation AfL

Blogs for pupils

Langwitch http://langwitch.org All Saints Languages Blog

http://allsaintslanguagesblog.typepad.co.uk

Sans Problèmes http://mmeperkins.typepad.com

MFL@Northgate-the Blog http://northgatemfl.blogspot.com

Showcasing pupil work

Helping them to learn vocabulary

Communication

Promote independent learning

Links to other websites

Share authentic material

Fun!

Homework

Peer assessment

Blogs for teachers The Langwitch Chronicles

http://helenabutterfield.net Integrating ICT into the MFL Classroom

http://joedale.typepad.com Box of Tricks http://boxoftricks.net My Languages

http://isabellejones.blogspot.com Vámanos http://lisibo.blogspot.com Languages and Learning

http://amandasalt.blogspot.com

How to create a blog

Choose a blogging platform Typepad ($49.50 a year) Blogger (Free) Wordpress (Free) Register That’s it!

Before you start

Purpose: Why are you blogging? (Interaction between you and your students? Information?)

Audience : For whom are you blogging? (Your students? Your colleagues? Anyone who is interested?)

Content: About what are you blogging? (Is it a diary?Is it for enrichment?Is it to motivate your pupils?)

Also consider…

URL and Name Make the URL easy to remember

and spell

Make the name something easy to remember

e-Safety

No surnames No email addresses No personal details Be sensible Moderation

So what’s a Wiki?

A website that many people can add to

More static than a a blog

Pupil collaboration

How to guide

Showcase pupil work

Peer assessment

Specific project

Online international collaboration

Teachers colloborating too: http://mfl-storybirds.wikispaces.com

More teacher collaboration

Further information

http://helenabutterfield.net http://langwitch.wikispaces.com

(Teachers’ Corner) Durham Tees Valley MFL http://

stocktonmfl.ning.com Email:

helena_butterfield@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @langwitch