I think it's the MOST important arena for teachers to build their personal learning networks. I've said it before - here's my post on being Attwicted to Learning.
It's harder to convince teachers of this however. in spite of this, a dozen keen folk came out to find out why this is so.
Knowing Alex Le Long had presented on Twitter at the NZATE conference in the holidays, I thought we would spread the love and get her to share her presentation. Thanks Alex! it was very informal, with questions and clarifications as we went along. Two new tweeps joined up and others enthused that they would start using it more.
We moved on to the topic of Blogging. as the discussion went that way, I talked about protocols and security:
- Don't forget that your school owns intellectual property completed in its name - so by inference - even student blogs.
- That means you need some identification and some pastoral control.
- Use the school name in some form in the URL so that they are easily found. we use "mokoia-int"
- Blogger settings allow you as teacher or administrator to both be an author and moderate either posts or comments or both. Suggest you get in there!
- Use first names, not surnames in titles and URLs and never identify a student with an individual portrait photo.
- Decide on the purpose of the blog. Will it be to publish beautiful teacher-edited work, or is it rather evidence of learning? The latter is more real and helps with parent understanding about where their learner is at. Say this in the blog description which appears under the title.
- Use the word verification; there are unfortunately, too many spammers out there!
- Advertise! Use twitter to tell the world about the blog post. Get your network to RT (retweet). Your young blogger will need readers and commenters!
Marnel talked about her Kidblogs. She teaches new entrants and Year 1. Even young students can post with a teacher's help. And parents love being able to share their child's learning at home.
Her children participate in Kidsedchatnz too, for which she is one of seven teacher facilitators. Make sure your children have real places to read and write, with real just in time audiences!
Thanks everyone for another great evening of learning and sharing. Next time - Friday 5 September, we'll discuss eportfolios, so bring your ideas, your questions - and a friend!
Connected Rotorua Twitter Handles:
@mrs_hyde @1MvdS @ariaporo22 @lynmartin @suewintersnz @NeedhamVicki @nobiek59 @JakBBB
