I need your ideas
Earlier this year, a fellow teacher convinced me to put forward a proposal for a paper to be presented at the ALEA conference in Hobart in July at Wrest Point. This conference involves literacy and English teachers from all levels of schooling. I have just been advised that the proposal was accepted, so I will have a one hour workshop to run on the topic:
Blogging safely in the big wide world
What do you think should be the main points I put forward in this workshop?
I would like it to be a practical workshop but am not sure if there is wifi capability at the venue (will check it out this weekend), so will firstly use an off line powerpoint presentation, and hopefully bring some students from my class last year to also participate.
I would like to include other ways of communicating online with examples such as skype, flatclassroom and 1001tales. Do you know any links to other great examples of collaboration across the world?
Yesterday I sent out a tweet about this and received some links from Anne Mirtschin and John Pearce.
As blogging often is seen as negative, I would like the conference participants to actually get in there and start writing comments on blogs belonging to students to find out how easy it can be to get started. Do you have any resources for how to make blogging more positive for ‘unsure about technology’ teachers?
If you have any links for AUP policies regarding blogging, nings and wikis, that might also be handy to use at this workshop.
The reason my fellow teacher convinced me to write the proposal was that I am currently running a student blogging challenge with about 800 students and classes from 13 countries of the world participating. I ran a similar event in third term last year and had a similar response. From the first challenge, students asked for a blog to be created and run by their classes and teachers. Thus was born ‘Bringing us together’.
Great topic…I think I’d want to come out of the session with ideas for a whole school ’safe blogging’ action plan.
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If there is any authority on kid blogs, it is you! Congrats on being accepted. You are responsible for my getting involved & having my daughter give it a go.
I spoke on the subject of blogging in a community development meeting earlier this week, and showed off Science Girl Em’s blog. When asked about the safety concerns, I told them that I’m more concerned about the very real threats to her safety right here in our little town of 900 (Two registered sex offenders against children) than I am of the internet boogeyman that is perceived to be a threat to her.
I don’t want to downplay the importance of being smart online, but let’s be real. Which is more dangerous? An actual child molester in the neighborhood, or an imagined one who could “get” your child if they go online.
I monitor my kid’s online activities pretty closely. She sees no comments without my prior approval. She posts nothing without my approval. There is nothing in her blog that discloses her exact location or last name. I think the concerns over kid blogging are over-hyped and unfounded as long as there is close supervision to what is going on.
What is very real is the motivation towards gaining literacy skills. My daughter works hard at composing sentences, and at reading the comments people leave for her. She does both of these things on her own at 7 years old. When I was her age, I was hardly literate, just learning to read & write.
Hope this helps.
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Hi Sue, I am presenting at an English teachers’ conference this Friday, so will share links to my slideshares with you then. (I havent uploaded it yet) My topic is “Bringing the English faculty into the 21st century”. So blogging is only a part of it. If you go to http://www.slideshare.net/murch, I did a small slideshare on what is a blog as I think that should be where you start, as many will not know.
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Sorry I must be tired, it should read murcha on slideshare
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Congratulations! I think the key is you need to focus on the fact you have 1 hour to do your presentation which isn’t long once you get started. First thing I would find out would be aspects like how many people will be attending and the layout of the room. I like to find out as much as possible as it influences how I can deliver the presentation.
I also like to build in as much interaction and conversation as possible. Which isn’t easy and varies on the constraints of the audience.
Other key points I focus on are what are the key points/messages I’m trying to get across while delivering the presentation and then I build my presentation around it. I think one of the most powerful messages you can give is your story – why you are doing this with your students and what they are gaining from it. If you can get them to share their story even better. Other aspect I would want to know is what processes do you use to make it happen.
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Hi Sue, a what a great topic for discussion. We have just embarked on blogging for teachers and students at my school and we have just finished up the initial training on how to set up a blog. For us at North Fitzroy Primary School its the potential for authenticity that blogging brings to the classroom. Many of my students have just become authors on my class blog and they have been blown away by the comments from people within their immediate community as well as from around the globe. The web is not new technology for our students, its tangible and real. For many teachers this is not the case and linking blogging to an authentic learning experience will enable many to see its value in the classroom. Check out a post from one of my colleagues who’s been totally inspired by the blogging experience. http://peterolm.globalteacher.org.au/2009/02/03/student-blogging-a-real-shot-at-authenticity/
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I am still at ground zero with teachers and struggling to get going! So wow for you! I am trying to get teachers to blog themselves first and then hope that they will see the value for their learners in the process. I have created a blogging pathway (still editing it) here (creative commons attribution) http://maggiev.edublogs.org/blogging-learning-pathway/
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Hi!
I am sure I will take part in this one, and I am also sure my siter Stephie will 
Thank you so much for the comment
Have a nice day!
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