SummercoreLearning2008

I have been thinking about how to introduce my 5th graders to blogging, and then I came upon this lesson plan on EdTech: Focus K-12

Creating Bloggers

Students study existing blogs to learn how to create their own

Lesson description: Start by having students become familiar with blogs and evaluate several existing sites. Students can use an evaluation sheet (see a sample at www.edtechmag.com/k12) to organize their thoughts. Introduce the concept of specialty blogs and discuss the possible benefits of creating or reading them. Exploring blogs also gives students the opportunity to make choices about what to read in order to reach their knowledge goals.

Next, allow students to pick topics for their blogs. This can be a homework assignment where they consult with friends and family. Before students write their first blog entry, introduce them to basic blog mechanics such as how to create a post, how to link to another site and how to comment. To finish the lesson, have students use their blog evaluation sheets as an outline for creating their first blog entry, which will describe some of the sites they have viewed. A printable worksheet, such as the sample at www.edtechmag.com/k12 (I could not find it… so I did not make a huperlink) can be a step-by-step guide to the assignment. When students have completed the lesson, they can visit other student blogs and leave constructive feedback.

Subject area: This assignment can be modified to apply to almost any subject area or age group.

Curriculum standards: This lesson addresses the following standards from the National Council of Teachers of English:

* Students will gain awareness of diverse literacy communities.
* Students will practice critical-thinking skills.
* Students will evaluate and comment on online literature.

This lesson also addresses these National Educational Technology Standards for Students:

* Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity and promote creativity.
* Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations.
* Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate and use information.

Resources:

* Adora’s Blog
* Blogging 101: An Introduction to Reading and Writing a Blog
* Blogging Tips for Beginners

Grading Rubric: This project introduces a unit and can be graded in conjunction with the final online portfolio or on its own. Students’ grades should be based on their ability to create their own blog, successfully post an entry and share their blog with others.

Adora Svitak is a 10-year-old internationally published author who wrote her first book, Flying Fingers: Mastering the Tools of Learning Through the Joy of Writing, when she was 7. She has since published a second book, Dancing Fingers, and has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News and CNN. She teaches several classes a week through videoconferencing.
Teaching Tips

* Before beginning this lesson, make sure your students understand standard web safety.
* If your school has web safety regulations and filters, you may want to clear the list of blogs students will read with a school administrator.
* Make your blog list long enough that students can choose not to evaluate certain blogs — explain that they get to choose which blogs to evaluate. The element of choice is essential.
* As long as they are age-appropriate, not every blog on your list needs to be exemplary — choosing a few duds allows students to flex their critical muscles.

I would like to experiment with podcasting with mu 5th graders this year, but I don’t know much about it.  I came across this lesson plan while browsing the Website: EdTech, Focus on K-12.  There are also many other links about podcasting on this site.

LESSON DESCRIPTION: Students create a podcast of what they’ve learned.

Radio WillowWeb is a Web site can collect students’ podcasts, and produce them for other students, educators and family members to listen to. Topics for podcasts may be selected by the teacher, but often are a result of student enthusiasm for a unit of study. Teachers follow these steps to create their podcasts:

* Students learn the format of a podcast and plan what content they will include.
* Working in small groups or with the whole class, students develop an outline.
* Students practice reading their scripts to other students.
* Recording takes place outside the classroom; the technology teacher edits the content and publishes it on the school’s Web site.

SUBJECT AREA: Reading and writing are the most obvious curricular connections. Depending on the topic, the podcast can include any other unit the students are studying.

RESOURCES: Students need access to the Web and print materials for research. Willowdale uses digital audio recording software to record and enhance podcasts. The only other necessary equipment is a USB headset microphone. To complete publishing, you need access to a Web server. A podcast requires a Web page and an RSS feed.

These Web sites include reference and tutorial assistance:

* Educational consultant Tony Vincent’s Web site has a download for the planning sheets used for Radio WillowWeb, as well as step-by-step instructions for creating podcasts.
* Educational author Dan Schmit provides general information about podcasting in the classroom.www.

Teaching Tips:

(from Cathy Greenwald, technology specialist at Willowdale Elementary School in Omaha, Neb.)

* To create PC podcasts, the free software Audacity is recommended for recording. Making the music requires additional software.
* Publicize your podcast by advertising it on your school’s home page. Expand your audience by submitting the Web address of your RSS feed to podcast directories.
* Try to keep the podcast 10 minutes or shorter, especially if your audience is elementary school students.
http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/april-may-2007/lesson-plans-i.html
http://snipurl.com/3ftmo