How to Create Edublogs That

Support Classroom Instruction

Dr. Jan Ray Dr. Candace Figg

West Texas A&M Brock University
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
• 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
Internet-based 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: University-
level
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 • Texas Education
of Education Content Agency – Texas
Standards Essential Knowledge
and Skills
– http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/
– http://www.tea.state.tx.us/te
 Resources
• YAHOO! • The Grammar Gorillas
– http://www.yahoo.com/ – http://www.funbrain.com/fun
• Counting on a Cloud • Primary Games
(Math)
– http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/games/game_
– http://www.primarygames.c
 Resources
• Clock Time • Math
– http://www.primarygames.com/math/timeclock/index.htm
– http://www.gokidding.com/m
• Blogger
• Fishy Count – http://www.blogger.com/sta
– http://www.primarygames.com/math/fishycount/index.htm
 Resources
• Reading Is Fun 4 Us • Science Is Fun 4 Us
(Edublog) (Edublog)
– http://readingisfun4us.blogspot.com/
– http://scienceisfun4us.blogs

• Reading Is Fun 4 All • Math Is Fun 4 Us

of Us (Edublog) (Edublog)
– http://readingisfun4allofus.blogspot.com/
– http://mathisfun4us.blogspo
 Resources
• WTAMU Ceramics
– http://wtamuceramics.blogspot.com/