With so many choices, I had to decide what web 2.0 tool I want to use in my class this year. I contemplated pbworks (which I love for its simplicity), Nings (which the students love for its facebook feel), Edmodo for its organizational features, and the winner is:
Each student will have his or her own Edublog, which will give the student a broader audience and more ownership of his or her work because the blog will be less controlled by me, the teacher, than one of the other web tools. The students will link to the main class blog in the Blogroll for easy access. See the main class blog below:
Mrs. Seale’s 9th Grade English Class Edublog
For organizational purposes, I have linked a Google Site and Calendar to the Edublog, so I can easily post handouts and assignment instructions. Students also have easy access to Google Sites because our district is using Google Apps this year.
Mrs. Seale’s 9th Grade English Class Google Site
Because students enjoy contributing and creating profiles using a Ning, we will use a Ning (our own social network) for a special project in which we communicate as if we are characters from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Implementing this Ning project worked last year, so I plan to use it again to engage students while we experience and discuss Shakespeare.
Hi Tara,
I enjoy reading your blog.
I am also planning on having each of my students create a blog this year.
Are there specific reasons why you chose to use edublog instead of blogger?
Blogger is blocked, so I decided to go with edublogs. I do like blogger though.
Hello,
I am an English teacher who found your site via the latest issue of NEA magazine. I have enjoyed reading your ideas and am thinking about having my students create their own blogs, too.
I was wondering if you had any tips to offer about using the edublog website. Do I have to subscribe with a payment before being able to monitor student blogs?
Thanks so much!
Megan Anderson
meg.palmer@gmail.com