Bring Writing Activities Into the 21st Century With EDUBLOG!

Often times, when teachers start their classes on writing assignments, students are only "politely" enthused.  Though the traditional approach does have merit and is a good place to start, teachers should consider using it only as a jump-off point to publishing on the internet.  When students discover their essays will be published to the worldwide web, they become genuinely excited at the prospect.  For them, people beyond the teacher will have the opportunity to see their creativity and possibly provide feedback (if the teacher allows comments to be entered).

How can this safely be done?  Though there are many blogging sites on the internet, here is one that is geared to teachers and their students---EDUBLOGS.  A simple blog is free, but if a teacher wishes to have the entire class interacting with it, there is a small fee, but many teachers don't go that far. 

There are other blogging sites with GOOGLE BLOGSPOT being the most popular.  However, Edublogs has the option of uploading PDFs while BLOGSPOT does not.  BLOGSPOT is also used in classrooms but with the understanding that the submissions are strictly for class use.  Again, teachers use it as a blog and as a "website."  Both are easy to use for teacher and student.

How can blogs be used to motivate students to write and enjoy the process?  What about students completing class projects on their blogs instead of with power points?  Students can upload videos (their own files or ones from the net), incredible photos to support their project, audio if it supports their writing, etc.  All these tools would be used to add grab the attention of the reader of their written work.  Every add-on would serve only one purpose-to make the student's writing more engaging and informative for the reader.  In the global workforce, this is done regularly so why not give students the opportunity (actually multiple opportunities from multiple disciplines) to use it in the classroom?

Anyone can write and blogging will support that statement with ease:)

Denise

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Project Based Learning--More Effective Assessment/Learning Tool Than Traditional Paper and Pencil Tests

By 2014, project based assessments will play a major role in testing.  To ensure that students are ready for this, teachers will need to start thinking about how they will shift from the more traditional testing instruments to hands-on projects.

Project based learning offers many creative avenues for students to demonstrate their comprehension of core content material by applying that knowledge to solve real world problems.  Imagine using geometry to layout the groundwork of a playground for children.  Bring in some physics students to assist in the design of safe playground material.  What about having students design a solar powered car (students in engineering programs are already doing this on a small scale)?  For younger students, have them design a community garden where the produce they grow could be given to food banks or to the school cafeteria to create more healthy meals for students.  For tech students, have them design educational apps for Google or Apple.  Students ARE doing this already with grants from high tech firms under the guidance of their teachers.  For students in English and social studies classes, why not have them start letter campaigns to spur their political leaders to correct environmental problems affecting the globe such as water pollution, CO2 emissions, global climate change, rising water levels around the world, poverty, drought, refugees, etc.  For civics classes, have them identify problems in their cities, and how those problems might be corrected. Assist students in "connecting the dots" so to speak between the concepts learned in school with the global community outside the classroom. 

With Common Core project based learning activities, students will be better prepared to  to enter the university and actually graduate.  This will be a major plus for especially ELLs since of those who do make it to college generally end up in 2 year colleges and generally drop out before the end of the first year. 

Below are two links.  One is a video on what project based learning looks like in practice, and the other is an article on it.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING--VIDEO

ARTICLE ON PROJECT BASED LEARNING

Denise

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Design Websites For Your Classes--Great Instructional Support Tools For ELLs:)

With more ELLs entering mainstream classrooms, teachers might want to think about creating class websites.  Websites here could hold the lesson materials used in class by the teacher.  Imagine how such a tool would boost an ELL's (or any other student who was experiencing difficulty with the classwork) self-confidence in tackling academic materials.

Here, the ELL would have that much needed additional time to review the day's work without the time pressures of the school bell schedule.  Using the website, the ELL would also be free to identify the areas of the lesson that were unclear.  Equipped with notes on issues which were unclear, the student would be able to share specific problems experienced in trying to fully grasp the content of the lesson.  Such details would give the teacher the information needed to offer mini in-class "tutorials" to bring the ELL up to speed with the lesson content. 

Another use of class created websites is through project based learning assignments.  Pick a subject, any subject, and offer students the opportunity to create a website.  Here language is a wonderful byproduct as kids work as a team using what they all enjoy--technology.  In the process of meeting their goal, the ELLs are becoming increasingly fluent in English.  Further, this is an opportunity for students to use their creativity to "think outside the box."  ELLs would be working with peers in designing the site.  When the ELL encounters a language issue, his/her peers would assist him/her.  After all, the entire group would earn one grade so it pays off to make sure that every member of the group stays on task. The new common core standards will expect to see more of project based learning activities in classes as well as active involvement on the part of all students including ELLs.

Here is a YOUTUBE video from Google on how to create a website through Google.  It is just under 3 minutes in length and easy to follow:  HOW TO CREATE A GOOGLE WEBSITE

This link takes you directly to the link where the creation process begins:)  GOOGLE SITES

 If any problems are encountered in creating your class website, just ask your students to help.  I bet that they already feel comfortable in working with them regardless of whether or not they speak English:)

Denise

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