The Journey from Library to Learning Commons The library, at one time, was the center of the school building. It's where knowledge was held, books were shared, and ideas were generated. It was quiet, to the point that mini-lessens were taught about the edict required while in the confines of this environment. A library in 1980 could look very similar to one today - Why is this? Nothing else has stayed the same...our students are different, technology has changed the way we gain information, and brain research has restructured our approach to the way students gain and understand information. Before I begin it is important to note that everything we have done, all that was created, was due to Christie’s amazing teachers and supportive parents. One of the things I love most about education is our willingness, and even love, of sharing information. A colleague of mine, @matthew_arend, recently wrote a great blog post about his creation of a makerspace. As a new principal I was ready to move forward with our LC. Fundraising.
5 Blogging Tips to Maximize Pageviews Per Visit Darren Rowse is at it again this month with 31 Days to Building a Better Blog. I have decided to participate with a post on a few tips to maximize your total pageviews per visit. Install the Related Posts Plugin. This plugin will allow you to display a list of related posts below each individual posts. These tips can be used with any blog regardless of your content.
Developing Blogging Skills: Simple Rubric Posted by Mrs Kathleen Morris on Wednesday, November 28th 2012 I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a blogging scope and sequence for a while. However, something about that idea makes me uncomfortable. For example, a number of my grade two students were sourcing and attributing Creative Commons materials for blog posts, and using HTML in comments. I find blogging to be a fantastic avenue for students to work at their own pace, while developing their skills as far as their capabilities and interests allow. A number of teachers who are introducing blogging into their classrooms have asked me what they should teach their students next. I have borrowed a couple of ideas from Kim Cofino’s Blogging Scope and Sequence (with permission), while incorporating many of the ideas I have developed through blogging with my students. Educational Blogging Rubric If you are having trouble viewing/downloading the rubric, you can access the PDF here K Morris Blogging Rubric November 2012
edmodo Step 2 – Set Up Your Blogging Rules and Guidelines We’ve designed a series of nine steps, with how-to info, to help you with your class blogging. This second step is to set up blogging rules and guidelines on your class blog. Why Have Blogging Rules and Guidelines? An important part of using an online tool with your students is educating them on appropriate online behavior. Your class blog provides an excellent opportunity to educate students, parents and other readers on proper online behavior such as: Types of identifying information that is appropriate in posts and/or comments e.g., What are your rules about use of last names, IM, images and personal information? Deciding On Your Blogging Rules and Guidelines This is the type of task where you could decide on the rules and guidelines yourself or do as a whole of class activity (where you actively involve your students in the entire process). Here are examples of different ways they are used on class blogs to help you with the task: 2KM @ Leopold Primary School! Subscribing For Free! Related
Awesome Flowchart to Help You Select A Blogging Platform for Your Class January 18, 2015 In an earlier post I shared here today I talked about some useful resources to help teachers set up and run a classroom blog. As a follow up, I am sharing with you this awesome flowchart created by GCF Learn Free which maps out and the popular blogging platforms you can select to host your classroom blog. This flowchart comes within a series of posts entitled “Blog Basics” that cover everything teachers need to know before embarking on an educational blogging experience. The series include : introduction to blogs, how to subscribe to blogs, developing your blog, choosing a blog service, writing and promoting your blog, and copyright and fair use. The flowchart below will help you understand the affordances and technicalities of the different blogging platforms out there. You can check the original full size flowchart from this link.