When is a Blog More Than Just a Blog?

Riddle me this Batman; When is a blog more than just a blog? Blogs can, and in my opinion, should be an essential component of connected learning. Your blog can become more than just a blog when it becomes a digital portfolio, or a podcast, or an eBook. I just provided the "what", the following three resources will help you get started with the "how".

Blog as ePortfolio - Using Blogger Pages to Create an ePortfolio - Dr. Helen Barrett
Blog as Podcast - Podcastomatic - Convert your favorite blog into a podcast
Blog as eBook - 3 Easy Ways to Turn Your Class Blog into an Ebook - Educational Technology & Mobile Learning

Why would you want to use or change your blog in these ways? There are several reasons, including; greater accessibility, an ongoing project, a culminating project, reflective practice, learning new technologies, and sharing learning in new ways, How do you see these features helping your learners grow?

The Ultimate Guide to The Use of Blogs in Teaching - Educational Technology & Mobile Learning

A Must-Have Guide to Becoming A Better Blogger - Edudemic

Blogging Tips for Teachers - PLP Network

Comments

Self-Directed vs. Self-Determined Learning; What's the Difference?

"We need to move beyond the idea that an education is something that is provided for us, and toward the idea that an education is something that we create for ourselves." - Stephen Downes In this age of abundance of information, shifting classroom pedagogy isn't nearly enough to make learning in school more relevant and authentic for the learner. Self-directed learning ( andragogy ), and self-determined learning ( heutagogy ) are the ideals necessary in making students " future ready " to live and learn in a web-connected world. While original research applied these concepts to mature learners, it has become apparent that even young children have an abundant capacity for recognizing and directing their learning. Anyone who has observed toddlers learning how to walk and talk understand the motivation and skill development that quickly develops during these processes. Considered by some to be on a learning continuum, self-directed learning, and self-determined

Board Games in the School Library: 3 Reasons Why It's a Winning Play

"Play is the highest form of research." - Albert Einstein “Play is the work of the child.” – Maria Montessori In our recently remodeled school media center, we have a space dedicated to active engagement in fun learning activities. Part maker space, part literacy lounge, board games are being incorporated to promote a culture of joyful learning. Whether it's a game of Rummy , Yahtzee , or Scrabble , family game night serves as a communication elixir and solidifies our domestic climate of togetherness. Shouldn't similar opportunities for interaction, challenge, and fun exist somewhere in our schools? Broken families, cultural fragmentation, and poverty are impacting opportunities for children to play. As we unpacked and tagged our new media center games, I was more disappointed than shocked by the number of students who had never played Monopoly , Boggle , or Sorry . One skeptical teacher commented, "Oh great, now we're letting students pl

Digital Badges for Teacher Professional Development

Increasingly, digital badges are becoming a topic of discussion for educators. A digital badge is a digitized token of recognition for acquiring a skill, demonstrating a competency, or for sharing knowledge gained from the completion of an activity or project. As more of our learning comes by way of digital connections and contributions, badges are becoming a more prominent method of acknowledging skills and accomplishments. Many teachers readily acknowledge the importance of personalization of learning for students. Shouldn't professional development experiences offer the same promise? Ask a typical teacher to describe their PD experiences in a single word and you will likely get responses such as irrelevant or boring . Besides personalization and relevance, digital badges provide opportunities for teachers to discuss the skills and knowledge that support educational best practice, and professional growth. These conversations support the form and function of profession

Nocking the Arrow

Search This Blog