How to Create Edublogs That
Support Classroom Instruction
Dr. Jan Ray
West Texas A&M University
Dr. Candace Figg
Brock University
Overview
• Introductions
• A Bit of History
– About Weblogs
– About Blogs
– About Edublog
• Using the SKATE Method to Create an
Edublog
Overview
• Sample Edublogs
– Reading
– Science and Mathematics
– University-level
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•
•
•
•
Demonstration
You Can Do It!
Questions and Answers
References
Resources
Introductions
A Bit of History
About Weblogs
•
•
•
•
Precursors to edublogs
Emerged in 1997
Digital journals
Defined as “ . . . Online
chronological collection[s]
of personal commentaries
and links . . .”
(EDUCAUSE Learning
Initiative 2005)
About Blogs
• 1999
– Weblogs were
nicknamed blogs
– Exponential growth
• Xanga
– Early blog hosting site
– 100 weblogs in 1997
– 27 million blogs in
2006
About Blogs
• Nowadays . . .
– Over 12 million adults
posting to blogs
– Over 57 million adults
reading blogs regularly
About Edublogs
• Emerged in 2001
• Defined as “a blog
written by someone
with a stake in
education” (Edublog
2006)
• Focused on “potential
of blogging in
teaching and learning
(Ferdig and Trammell
2004)
About Edublogs
• Four benefits of using
edublogs
– Helps students become
subject-matter experts
– Increases student interest
and ownership of learning
– Gives students legitimate
chances to participate
– Provides opportunities for
diverse perspectives, both
within and outside of the
classroom (Ferdig and
Trammel 2004)
About Edublogs
• Specialists in
neurolearning
concluded that
edublogs
– Promote critical and
analytical thinking
– Can be powerful
promoters of creative,
intuitive, and
associational thinking
– Promote analogical
thinking
About Edublogs
• Specialists in
neurolearning
concluded that
edublogs
– Are a useful medium
for increasing access
and exposure to
quality information
– Combine the best of
solitary reflection and
social interaction (Edie
Neurolearning Blog
2005)
About Edublogs
• Researchers
concluded
– The most valuable
aspects of edublogs
were (1) course
engagement and (2)
repetition of exposure
to coursework (Brescia
and Miller 2006)
About Edublogs
• How can edublogs
be used to support
instruction?
– As a means of
communication
– As an instructional
resource
– As a collaborative
tool
– As a showcase for
student projects
http://www.kdp.org/pdf/publications/record/RSM06Ray.pdf
Using the SKATE Method to
Create an Edublog
• Start with Standards
• Find Kid-Safe Internet-based Learning
Activities
• Check for Curriculum Alignment
• Test for Quality Instructional Design
• Add the Selected Learning Activities to
Your Edublog
Using the SKATE
Method to Create an
Edublog
Start with Standards
Find Kids-Safe Internetbased Learning Activities
Check for Curriculum
Alignment
Test for Quality Instructional
Design


Add the Selected Learning
Activities to Your Edublog
For quick and easy push-button publishing . . .
Sample Edublogs: Reading
Sample Edublogs: Science
and Mathematics
Sample Edublog: Universitylevel
Demonstration
Demonstration
You Can Do It!
•
•
•
•
Create an account
Name your blog
Chose a template
Use the SKATE
method
• Edublog away . . .
http://www.blogger.com
Questions and Answers
References
• Blog. (2005). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 15, 2006, from
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog.
• Blogger. (2006). Available online at the following URL:
http://www.blogger.com/start.
• Brescia, William F. and Miller, Michael T. (2006). What’s It Worth?
The Perceived Benefits of Instructional Blogging. Electronic Journal
for the Integration of Technology in Education 5: 44-52.
• Edublog. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 15, 2006, from
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edublog.
• EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative. (2005). Seven Things You Should
Know About Blogs. Retrieved November 15, 2006, from
EDUCAUSE www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7006.pdf.
• Ferdig, Richard E. and Trammell, Kaye D. (2004). Content Delivery
in the Blogosphere. T. H. E. Journal 31(7): 12-15.
References
• Kajder, Sara; Bull, Glen; and Van Noy, Emily. (2004). A Space for
“Writing without Writing” Blogs in the Language Arts Classroom.
Learning and Leading with Technology 31(6): 32-35.
• Karchmer, Rachel A.; Mallette, Marla H.; Kara-Soteriou, Julia; and
Leu, Donald J. (2005). Innovative Approaches to Literacy
Education—Using the Internet to Support New Literacies. Newark,
Deleware: International Reading Association.
• Marsan, Carolyn D. Can Blogging Boost Your Career? (2006).
Retrieved August 28, 2006, from Network World
http://www.networkworld.com/cgi-bin/mailto/x.cgi.
• Molina, Pablo G. New Student Collaborative Tools. (2005).
Retrieved August 31, 2006, from EDUCAUSE
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/dec0501.pdf.
• Quible, Zane K. (2005). Blogs and Written Business
Communication Courses: A Xanga. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved
November 15, 2006, from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanga .
References
• Ray, Jan. (2006). Welcome to the Blogosphere: The Educational
Use of Blogs AKA Edublogs. Kappa Delta Pi Record. Summer:
175-177.
• Richardson, Will. (2005). Blog Revolution: Expanding Classroom
Horizons with Web Logs. Technology and Learning 26(3): 48.
• Richardson, Will. (2003). Web Logs in the English Classroom.
English Journal 93(1).
• Toner, Mark. (2004). Blogs Help Educators Share Ideas, Air
Frustrations. Education Week 23(18).
• WTAMU Ceramics (Edublog). Available online at the following URL:
http://www.wtamuceramics.blogspot.com/
• Xanga. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 15, 2006, from
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanga .
Resources
• California State Board
of Education Content
Standards
– http://www.cde.ca.gov/
be/st/ss/
• Texas Education
Agency – Texas
Essential Knowledge
and Skills
– http://www.tea.state.tx.
us/teks/
Resources
• YAHOO!
– http://www.yahoo.com/
• Counting on a Cloud
– http://funschool.kaboo
se.com/formulafusion/games/game_c
ounting_on_a_cloud.ht
ml
• The Grammar
Gorillas
– http://www.funbrain.co
m/funbrain/grammar/
• Primary Games
(Math)
– http://www.primarygam
es.com/math.htm
Resources
• Clock Time
• Math
– http://www.primarygam
– http://www.gokidding.c
es.com/math/timeclock
om/math.htm
/index.htm
• Blogger
• Fishy Count
– http://www.blogger.co
– http://www.primarygam
m/start
es.com/math/fishycou
nt/index.htm
Resources
• Reading Is Fun 4 Us
(Edublog)
– http://readingisfun4us.
blogspot.com/
• Reading Is Fun 4 All
of Us (Edublog)
– http://readingisfun4allo
fus.blogspot.com/
• Science Is Fun 4 Us
(Edublog)
– http://scienceisfun4us.
blogspot.com/
• Math Is Fun 4 Us
(Edublog)
– http://mathisfun4us.blo
gspot.com/
Resources
• WTAMU Ceramics
– http://wtamuceramics.
blogspot.com/