Blogging in the Multimodal Classroom

Making ConnectionsO Brainstorm:

O Write down ways that you have used, or observed, a journal in a classroom.

orO With a partner think of how a journal

can be used in a classroom.

What is a Blog?O Short for “weblog”O Editable web page where posts are

organized with the most recent entry first.

O Sample Blog

Why Teach Blogging?O Awareness of developing interaction

within a virtual space (Bhattacharya and Chauhan)

O Online communication linked with online reading comprehension

O Bridges the home-school literacy gapO Provide and authentic audienceO Fosters autonomy

Classroom News BlogO Share news and information with

parents and students.O Post homework, update curriculum for

parents, and share home-school connection information

http://michellesmelser.blogspot.com/

Mirror BlogO Allows bloggers to reflect on their

thinking.O Includes student and teacher

reflections (great way to model!)O Allows students to include thoughts

and comments about reflections.

http://calteacherblog.blogspot.com/

Showcase BlogsO Used to post student art project,

podcasts, and writing.

http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337

Literature Response Blogs

O Teachers post a prompt based on a text, and students respond to the prompt like a journal.

O May also include collaborative posts.

www.mskreul.edublogs.org/tag/lit-circles/

HOT BloggingO Higher Order Thinking

1. Bolster background- build background knowledge

2. Prime the pump- start a blog-based conversation using other blogger’s thoughts.

3. Continue the conversation- summarize and synthesize information.

4. Make multiplicity explicit- read, think, and comment on classroom blog.

EngageO With a partner, fill out the Venn

Diagram to compare classroom journals with blogs.

O Do you feel that blogging has a relevant place in the classroom? If so, where and how do you think it would be most effective?