Blogging with and for EAL Learners Bonnie Nicholas REALize Online Conference January 24, 2013
Outline
What is blogging? writing and sharing ideas online asynchronous communication organized chronologically entries are archived & searchable private or public; audience can be restricted Others can add posts and comments; you control who has access to your blog. Twitter is like a calling card. Facebook is like a phone call. Blogging is like a full-fledged conversation!* * Source: http://www.flyingsolo.com.au
Blogging history & research The first blog was created in January 1994.* Blogs have become ubiquitous. Because of this longevity, blogging has been well-researched as an educational tool. * Source: New York Magazine
Blogging platforms
Having a professional-sounding English email account ending in.ca or.com is an asset for newcomers, especially when looking for a job. Advantages of Blogger web-based; single sign-on easy to use Blogger help Blogger Buzz easy to add hyperlinks & visuals easily accessed through Gmail Disadvantages not really useful for sharing files time-consuming
Google Apps
Q: How easy is it to blog? A: Very, very easy. WYSIWYG editing edit / delete after posting insert pictures and hyperlinks link new vocabulary to an online dictionary embed widgets like YouTube videos and Vokis
Blogging Decisions You choose the look and feel of your blog. You choose how comments are displayed. You can choose to moderate comments.
Embedding videos on Blogger Click on share, then embed Grab (copy) the embed code I uncheck the box that says Show suggested videos when the video finishes.
Embedding videos on Blogger Compose is the default WYSIWYG setting. You can add comments before / after an embedded video. Switch to html before pasting the embed code. Preview, then publish (or save to post later).
Learning outcomes Essential Skills Reading, Writing, Working with Others, Digital Technology, Thinking Skills, Lifelong Learning Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB 5/6) convey personal messages write a paragraph understand and follow instructions understand moderately complex social messages
Blogging for language learning Blogs can have: interactivity collaboration peer review editing practice self-reflection assignments discussions feedback Blogs can lead to: pride in authorship more writing quantity better writing quality more complexity development of a voice in the L2 sense of community digital literacy improved pragmatics (audience) Sources: Fellner & Apple (2006); Warschauer (2010)
Blogging & PBLA Portfolio-Based Language Assessment learning goals learning reflections learning diary formative assessment portfolio tasks
Blogging & UDL Universal Design for Learning multiple means of engagement multiple means of representation multiple means of action and expression
Key factors: Private vs. Public privacy laws (FOIP in Alberta) creating a safe environment postings are forever * 1. Class blog everyone in the class participates not visible to anyone outside the class owned by the instructor 2. Individual blogs private between the student and the instructor not visible to anyone else (unless the student chooses) owned by the student * Source: Cornell University Digital Literacy Resource
Ideas for writing feedback as a comment on a personal blog review together (online / print) print for the learner to edit copy and paste into Word use track changes and upload to Drive
A sample class blog This blog is private. All students are authors, and can post and reply (comment). The instructor owns the blog, and can edit or delete any post.
What do students post on a class blog? questions about language links to language-learning websites information about their culture music videos pictures of themselves answers to questions posed by the instructor encouraging words for their classmates personal contact information feedback on websites and class activities
Some student blogs
From a student Our class will dismiss in few weeks, but teacher and our classmates also connect with the blog, when I login into the blog, as if our classroom is here... It is also a bridge between Bonnie and us even [when] our classmates [are not in class]. Note: (emphasis added)
Creating how-to s for students Use Print Screen to capture visuals. Paste into PowerPoint. Use the picture tools to edit: crop, resize, send to back or bring to front, borders, etc.
Setting up your own blog: Using an online journal to share your ideas LINC Blended Course NorQuest College Winter Term 2014
The word blog is a short form of web log. A blog is an online place for you to share your ideas, thoughts, and opinions. You set up the blog, you decide how it looks, and you control who can read it and who can write on it. There are many blogging sites available, but we will be using Blogger, as you already have a Blogger account with your mynorquest email. Please add me as an author so I can have a dialogue with you about your writing.
1. Log into your mynorquest email account. 2. Click on the Apps symbol in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. 3. Next, click on More. 4. Then click on Blogger.
5. Create a Blogger Profile I suggest you create a limited Blogger profile for now; you can always change it later. I would like you to upload a picture of yourself. I can take a picture of you for this. If you would rather not have your picture on your blog, that s okay.
6. Choose a name. Please use your own name; this will make things much easier for me, as I will be reading everyone s blog. You can always change things later. This is where you can add a picture if you like. 7. Then click on Continue to Blogger.
8. Now you re ready to click on new blog. You should already show up as an author on the LINC Blended blog.
9. Choose a title. Please use your first name in your title, and choose a professional-sounding title: Bonnie s Journal Bonnie s Writing Bonnie s Learning Bonnie s LINC Blended 10. Create a web address. You cannot have any spaces in your web address. Every blog must have a unique URL. You may have to try a few different web addresses before you find one that works. See some tips on the next slide.
You may have to try several times before you find an available web address. You may see the message Sorry, this blog address is not available. Keep trying until you see the message This blog address is available. 10. Choose a template. You can change your template later if you want. 11. Click on Create Blog.
12. Now you re ready to write! You can create a blog post. You will be using your personal blog as an online journal, for writing assignments and for writing about your learning.
13. Every post should have a short, relevant title. 14. Each post should be a well-written sentence or paragraph. Use the spell-check tool! You will be choosing your best journal entries for your online portfolio later in the term. Here s where you ll find the spell check tool. 15. Once you ve proof-read and edited your work, you can publish!
16. Go to your Blogger home page or to the overview of your blog. Click on settings.
17. Make your blog invisible to search engines by changing the settings under Privacy. Choose no for both questions. Click on Save changes. 18. Add Bonnie as an author. Please use my mynorquest email address: bnicholas123@mynorquest.ca 19. Make your blog private, visible only to blog authors. Then click on save changes at the bottom of your screen. A private blog means that only you and I will be able to see and read your blog (unless you choose to add someone else as an author).
Your blog will be a private online journal. I will post a writing assignment for your blog every week. I will reply to everything you write, and offer some suggestions to improve your writing. This is your blog; you can choose to invite anyone you choose to read your blog; however, I suggest that you not make your blog public. Everyone in our class will continue to read our class blog, LINC Blended Course, write posts, and add links and comments. Have fun with your blog!
Blogs for PD SMSSLT Communities of Practice Tutela webinars Pinterest ezines Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Personal Learning Network blogs
Blogs for PD Blogger allows you to add your favourite blogs to a reading list. You can add and receive updates from any blog, even ones that are not hosted by blogspot.
Blogs for PD Larry Ferlazzo Joe Dale Nik Peachey
Blogs for PD Movie segments to assess grammar goals TESOL blog Richard Byrne at Free Technology for Teachers recently posted A Complete Guide to using Blogger in Schools. Highly recommended!
Additional References (Just to get you started, in addition to the blogs previously referenced.) Fellner, T., & Apple, M. (2006). Developing writing fluency and lexical complexity with blogs. The JALT CALL Journal, 2(1), 15-26. Retrieved from http://journal.jaltcall.org/articles/2_1_fellner.pdf Light, J. (2011). Building skills and expertise for using e-learning with adult ESL learners. Available on Tutela. (I particularly recommend the section Guiding principles in online ESL programming.) Warschauer, M. (2010). New tools for teaching writing. Language Learning and Technology, 14(1), 3-8. Retrieved from http://llt.msu.edu/vol14num1/commentary.pdf
Continuing the Conversation How do you / would you use blogs in your teaching? What blogs do you follow? Join the discussion in the Realize Online Conference group on Tutela.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Thank-you! bonnie.nicholas@norquest.ca