[Yr7-10it] (no subject)

[victor rajewski]

We've just set up elgg at our school - it works more or less like a
local version of myspace/facebook. So at least it has that social
element lacking in a straight blog system. Indeed, they do spend a
chunk of the time on social banalities, but at least it is in a
'sandbox'

vik

On 8/20/07, Russell Edwards <edwards.russell.t at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:
> Ken,
>
> I must admit, a very common complaint was "this sucks, why can't we
> just use Myspace? It's so much better!" Then again, they were more
> than likely just wanting an excuse to do at school what the spend all
> evening doing--social banalities. Indeed, left to their own devices,
> many would spend most of their time both in the blogs topic and the
> HTML/CSS topics adding pictures of themselves and their friends.
>
> Russell
>
>
> On 20/08/2007, at 5:03 PM, ken price wrote:
>
> > I've been working with a bunch of pre-service teachers. Mostly GenX
> > and GenY, but not many had personal experience in blogging - most
> > just read someone else's blogs. It was a challenge for some to post
> > content to a shared blog we set up to look at student self-
> > assesment in ICT
> >
> > Then I mentioned Facebook.
> >
> > There was no need to worry about teaching them about this- they
> > were off and running, as they either use it or they were desperate
> > to learn. The only problem is that while they can add their
> > reflections and ideas, their colleagues need a Facebook account to
> > see them. Oh, and it is probably blocked in schools....
> >
> > So, I'm wondering if extending technologies that kids already use
> > is a more effective option. If the technology is intuitive we can
> > make better use of it without having to teach its peculiarities.
> >
> > After all, did anyone need to run training courses in using an ATM,
> > or does anyone need to show students how to use a mobile phone?
> >
> > Ken.
> > On 8/20/07, Russell Edwards <edwards.russell.t at edumail.vic.gov.au>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > On 20/08/2007, at 3:03 PM, Kerrie A Hammond wrote:
> > >
> > > I keep hearing a lot about blogging yet have no idea how to use it
> > > in my classroom. I would be greatful if any list contributors, who
> > > are currently using blogging, could give me some hints on where to
> > > start.
> >
> > Hi Kerrie,
> >
> > I use blogs in two ways in my Year 9/10 classes
> >
> > 1) For each class, I make a "class blog", where each unit of work is
> > listed and full handouts placed for viewing or download
> >
> > 2) Each student makes their own blog. At the end of each unit of work
> > (typically 2 weeks long), they write a reflective entry on the work
> > they have done, where possible uploading the actual product or an
> > image/screenshot. This forms part of the VELS ICT for Communicating
> > assessment, and where the product is adequately displayed I will
> > often do the assessment of that (for the other dimensions) just by
> > looking at their blog. Also, some units of work give them some
> > specific questions, which they answer in a blog entry for assessment
> > in either or both of the other two ICT dimensions.  Their blog
> > entries are also meant to include a "trackback" link to the
> > corresponding entry of the class blog, however I have found that
> > these often inexplicably fail to work (on wordpress.com blogs).
> >
> > I think this has great potential, but as with everything else, it
> > often founders on the shoals of student disengagement...
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > Russell
> >
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