webwikiblog

Websites, Wikis and Blogs Oh My! Joe Hegland 319-310-7260 joehegland@w-delaware.k12.ia.us toc

Purpose
The purpose of this class is to help teachers improve the teaching and communication in their classroom by learning the characteristics of good classroom websites, theories behind the purpose of classroom websites, and implementation/design of their own classroom website.

Objectives
The learners will demonstrate knowledge of what makes a good classroom website/wiki/blog.

The learners will review other websites/wikis/blogs and critique them to their effectiveness in the classroom.

The learners will take the theories of online learning and apply it to their own classroom.

The learners will apply their understanding of online learning, what makes a good and effective website to begin work on their own classroom website.

Classroom Activities
We will read through articles on theory of online instruction. This will include what it takes to create an open and safe environment on the web. Then we will talk about how to work with your students on how they are to approach this. This will include discussions on what is already available to our students and how to take what they know and turn it into an educational experience and some place that will benefit work being done in the classroom.

We will review the differences between websites, wikis and blogs. This will give background on each one so that way the learners know the difference between each one when we talk about them.

We will look at what characteristics make a good website. We will read on what makes good ones and then come up with what we believe makes a website work great. We will then look at examples of good classroom websites, blogs and wikis to show how these characteristics match. We will take our theories of online learning and characteristics of good websites to review numerous websites, blogs and wikis to see how different ones rank and how they could be changed to make them more effective for students. The learners will then have to review multiple ones on their own and report on what they found and how they would rate them based on what they know.

We will make plans for our own websites, using our theories and previous comments. The learners will start on paper designing what they would want their space to look like and what they would want to include. Then we will take that and start to develop a website. We will go over some helpful hints in designing and websites that can help. This will provide a beginning that they can grow and continue building.

Assignments
A response from an article and personal views about online communication. Create a posting and respond to others.

A paper that takes a classroom website, classroom blog and a classroom wiki and reviews it based on theory and characteristics of a website. Explain on each one what are its good points and what are its bad points. Then give feedback on how to make each one better.

One page of a wiki, blog, website – Blog – A Blog created and a few posts written with some replies. Also categories created and blogs tagged. – Website – An introduction page created for a website with possible links added to the site. – Wiki – An introduction page created for a website with possible links added to the site.

A two-page paper to accompany their website, blog, or wiki: How you plan to use the wiki, website, or blog with your students; What you will do to curb problems that could come up; How you created your page to meet the criteria of a good website.

Attendance
= = Participants are expected to be in attendance at all sessions. If you need to miss, please discuss with me first. I will assign readings that discuss our topics. Then the participant will have to write a paper connecting what they read to their own classroom and how they will take what they read and use it in their own room. This will be on top of any of the other work that we need to accomplish. If two days need to be missed then the participant will have to talk to me about the ability to complete the course. = = = =

Suggested Reading
Palloff, R. and Pratt, K. (1999) Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom. Jossey-Bass Productions: San Francisco. [|Aragon, S, and Johnson, S (2002) An Instructional Strategy Framework for Online Learning Environments.] [|Anderson, T. Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Athabasca University]. [|Bender, Tisha (2003). Discussion-based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning. Stylus Publishing, LLC] [|Web Design Checklist] [|Websites, Wikis and Blogs PowerPoint] [|Class Rubric]

Websites/Blogs/Wikis
[] [|http://teachers.saschina.org/ahossack] [] [] http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis

Guidelines/Expectations for the Classroom
Not changing password If you wouldn’t say it to their face/don’t say it Know how to edit/share the workload. Only work under own site/username Make sure to sign out after use Proper writing expectations. Positive/neutral comments Copyright issues

Benefits and Issues
Write more Better communication Universal access Home connection Freedom Activity-based Ownership Safe place Connection to the world Instantaneous || Integrity of kid to not make changes Putting up appropriate material’ Safety No spell check/able to come back Internet access at home Grading the same way Community/Safe place Computers/technology Instantaneous Impersonal ||
 * **Benefits** || **Issues** ||
 * Technological Skills

Types of Links for Pages
Assignments Benchmarks Syllabus Spelling Lists Class policies Calendar Links to websites Schedule/Events Class notes Different classes Student work