Kathleen BrunnettKathleen BrunnettMedia SpecialistMedia Specialist

North Carroll Middle SchoolNorth Carroll Middle SchoolHampstead, Carroll CountyHampstead, Carroll County

Kathleen was the first CCPSKathleen was the first CCPSMedia Specialist to create a blog Media Specialist to create a blog

for middle school students.for middle school students.

Motivation:Motivation:

Introduce the students and teachers Introduce the students and teachers to a new way to use technology.to a new way to use technology.

Make more meaningful connections Make more meaningful connections with the students.with the students.

Promote literacy and improve writing Promote literacy and improve writing skills.skills.

Encourage and inspire a love of Encourage and inspire a love of reading for pleasure.reading for pleasure.

What’s so great about a blog?What’s so great about a blog?

Due to budget constraints and our Due to budget constraints and our rural location, technology is slower to rural location, technology is slower to catch on in CCPS.catch on in CCPS.

No initial guidelinesNo initial guidelines No training availableNo training available Administrative concernsAdministrative concerns

ImplementationImplementation1.1. Research!Research!

-Find a site that was safe and user-friendly.-Find a site that was safe and user-friendly. -Generate permission slips, terms and -Generate permission slips, terms and conditions to protect herself and students.conditions to protect herself and students.

22. Launched a site using Edublogs.. Launched a site using Edublogs.3.3. IT took notice of her blog and others like it IT took notice of her blog and others like it

and implemented new rules and procedures.and implemented new rules and procedures.44. As a result of IT’s directives and a better . As a result of IT’s directives and a better

working knowledge of site management, the working knowledge of site management, the blog was slightly re-designed to it’s current blog was slightly re-designed to it’s current appearance.appearance.

Positive ResultsPositive Results Out of 600 students, 150 signed up for the Out of 600 students, 150 signed up for the

blog, along with a few teachers.blog, along with a few teachers. With anonymity, the students have been With anonymity, the students have been

free to express themselves. (No problems free to express themselves. (No problems with inappropriate posts.)with inappropriate posts.)

Easy to maintain.Easy to maintain. ““Meaningful blogging” as extra credit.Meaningful blogging” as extra credit. Getting to know the bloggers and what Getting to know the bloggers and what

they are reading and thinking.they are reading and thinking.

Negative ResultsNegative Results

With IT overseeing the blog, Kathleen has With IT overseeing the blog, Kathleen has lost a lot of control and things aren’t lost a lot of control and things aren’t always done in a timely manner.always done in a timely manner.

Teacher apathy. Only 2 or 3 teachers Teacher apathy. Only 2 or 3 teachers participate regularly.participate regularly.

No feedback (positive or negative) from No feedback (positive or negative) from parents or administration.parents or administration.

Even with new Fiber Optic connection, no Even with new Fiber Optic connection, no significant increase in speed, most likely significant increase in speed, most likely due to old equipment.due to old equipment.

Personal NotePersonal Note

Laurie Owings, the Media Specialist at Shiloh Laurie Owings, the Media Specialist at Shiloh Middle School, has just launched her own Middle School, has just launched her own blog. As her assistant, I’ve been able to blog. As her assistant, I’ve been able to observe and assist her as she progressed observe and assist her as she progressed through these same steps.through these same steps.

Thank you for listening!Thank you for listening!

Any questions?Any questions?