Tech Play 1

Definitions: 

A blog is a unique address located on the internet that allows you a space to present your thoughts, ideas or information you would like to share.  It is a spot all your own that you can customize to represent your individuality or to represent the information you would like to put out to the public.  There are very few limits as to what you can do with a blog.  Limits are simply defined by which hosting site you choose.  

A blog is a little more simple to update regularly than a web site.  Some web sites can be cumbersome to navigate in or to build.  Most blog hosting sites are drag and drop or ready to use.

Other options are:

• VLOG  which is primarily a video log.  Great if you just need a simple tutorial or would like to showcase work in your room for parents to see. 
• VOICE THREAD which is simply audio threads.
• GLOG  is an interactive media poster ( I use this for students to show parts of a computer in my class).
• BLOG  is an interactive site that can be a combination of any of the above.

Blog Sites: 

I have a little experience with several different sites.  Here is a list of what I have tried over the years and my thoughts.  Please know, some may have been upgraded since I have first began using them.

• Google sites (not the same as Blogger or Blogspot) access via your Google account.  This is a web site but works well for blogging.
• www.Svbtle.com - Sleek, not free, but inexpensive.
• www.squarespace.com - Totally love the way this looks but again it isn't free.  If I had a product to sell this would be my choice.
• www.edublogs.org - free trial, not free. ( :
• www.edu.glogster.com/product-information - not free
• www.wix.com - I like the look of Wix, but I feel like it is less personal.  
• www.blogger.com - free, ability to create tabs, customize to your liking. It takes a little time to get used to it, maybe not as "new user" as others.   Allows for coding rather than just plain drag and drop fill in the space type of sites.  Did I say FREE? It's free!  

Affordances: 

I currently use blogs in my classroom.  Some are better than others, but that is the case with any subject and work that is submitted.  One class that I teach offers photo manipulation such as Photoshop.  My students use a blog to keep their portfolio of work and progress made.  I allow all notes to be taken and kept in a single tab on their portfolio.  These notes can be accessed during testing, but not paper notes, text, or other websites.  My thought is that the student will learn the information by creating the information or by typing it out. Also, they can refer to it at any time during their LIFE, such as college if needed.  It is a great way to refer or reflect back on their past work.

As a teacher, using blogs in the classroom allows me to check student work from home.  I have several ways that I store all of their site addresses for easy point and click checking. It makes my life a little easier rather than shuffling papers or flash drives. 

Being a learner and using a blog allows me to reflect on my own thoughts and classwork once I move forward in my career.  This blog will allow me a simple and effective storage area for things I want to remember, use later, or to share with others. This blog would be easily accessible to me no matter where I am. 

For My Lessons: 

I currently keep my own scope and sequence on a blogsite.  I work in a small district that does not furnish lessons.  Everything I teach, I create or borrow and revamp to fit my needs.  The site I use for my scope and sequence of my 4 different classes allows me to simply click and teach.   I don't have to worry about running to the file cabinet to pull a lesson if I am off campus.

To support learning I keep papers, videos, self created videos using screencasting on my blog.  If a student is out sick, homebound or needs to review they can access my site for all in class work that was covered on that day.  

Obstacles: 

I would like to use the feature where students can comment on each others work. So far that has not been so successful because inappropriate or silly comments are made.  I have had many lessons on internet safety, flaming and appropriate content, however, it is very hard to control and monitor.  If I were able to use this aspect of the blog, I feel it would allow a type of discussion board rather than going to another site such as a Wiki for discussion.  At High School level, I have not been able to successfully implement discussion boards where inappropriate postings haven't been a problem.  Another obstacle I have is that if student blogs are shared to all students in the classroom, they begin to start copying information from one student site and posting to their own.  Would love ideas if you have them.