ready, set, blog! –web 2.0 technologies in foreign language classrooms nectfl, march 27, 2010...

Ready, Set, Blog! –Web 2.0 Ready, Set, Blog! –Web 2.0 Technologies in Foreign Technologies in Foreign Language Classrooms Language Classrooms

NECTFL, March 27, 2010

Jutta Schmiers-Heller, Columbia University, [email protected] Heller, Montclair State University, [email protected]

This presentation is available athttp://www.columbia.edu/~js2331/NECTFL-2010.pdf

Presentation OverviewPresentation OverviewDefinitionSelectionCreationDevelopment of blogs throughout

the semesterAssessment of student language

useEvaluation of technologies as a

learning tool Discussion and some work

3/27/10NECTFL 2010/ Heller/Schmiers-Heller 2

Definition Definition What is a blog, anyway?• The word “blog” is an abbreviation of

“weblog”. A blog is a web publication which

consists of a series of message posts (possibly with comments by visitors).

Blogs archive each post chronologically, with the most recent posts showing up at the top of the main page.

Source: http://edblogs.columbia.edu/

3/27/10 3NECTFL 2010/ Heller/Schmiers-Heller

Definition, cont. Definition, cont.

How is a blog different from a web site?

• A blog distinguishes itself from web pages as it is engine/template driven.

To blog does not require any special knowledge by the author. A knowledge of HTML is not a requirement.*

Blogs are social in nature allowing many authors, readers, collaborators.


Web 2.0 Technologies - Web 2.0 Technologies - OverviewOverview

WordPressMoveable TypeExpression EngineDrupalTextpattern

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/08/29/10-weblog-engines-reviewed

JoomlaB2evolutionNucleus CMSSerendipityMephisto


•Blogger and Blogspot are one and the same, operated by Google.

Our Choice: WordPressOur Choice: WordPressWhy WordPress?Most famous and most widely used

blogging platformVery intuitive web-based installer making it

easy to use from expert to novice usersDownloading and installation of program

and automatic updates is easy (.org)Learning curve not very steepVast community of users and developers

so one can find any plug-in and theme*Extensive documentation on WordPressFree, hosted solution available (.com)

Source: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/08/29/10-weblog-engines-reviewed


Our choice: Our choice: EdBlogs is an environment that provides a blog

for any course offered at Columbia University upon the course instructor’s request. EdBlogs make it easy to share course content and create an online community using a blogging format.

Blogs within the system use familiar, word-processor-style editing tools for adding and editing text and images, so it’s easy to create, update and revise posts.

EdBlogs are set up with a simple template that should accommodate most course needs, including blogging, journaling, or even a simple course web site. Instructors will also be able to customize the templates to suit specific course requirements. Samples of course blogs will be released during the service rollout.

Source: http://edblogs.columbia.edu/


The German 1102 Blog- The German 1102 Blog- Front EndFront End


WidgetsWidgets


The German 1102 Blog- Back The German 1102 Blog- Back EndEnd


Blog Back EndBlog Back End


Blog Back EndBlog Back EndUsers

◦Authors and Users*◦Your Profile◦Default Role Options

Settings◦General ◦Writing ◦Reading◦Discussion◦Media◦Privacy


Users - Authors and UsersUsers - Authors and Users


Users – Your ProfileUsers – Your Profile


Users – Default Role Users – Default Role OptionOption


Settings - GeneralSettings - General


Settings - WritingSettings - Writing


Settings - Reading Settings - Reading


Frontpage Back EndFrontpage Back End


Settings - DiscussionSettings - Discussion


Settings - MediaSettings - Media


Settings - PrivacySettings - Privacy


Blog Back End - PostsBlog Back End - Posts


Blog GoalsBlog GoalsBlog posts on chapters:

◦ Students write posts on topics relating to chapters of textbook (chapters 7, 8, 9, 11)

◦ Students write posts on topics relating to a movie (‘Im Juli’).

=>recycling, practice of vocabulary, new structures of chapters

Hot Topic◦ Students author one blog on topic they are

interested in.◦ Students comment on all topics but their

own.=> Recycling and practice of new structures,

but less of vocabulary, but trying out new vocabulary themselves.


Tech Session with the Tech Session with the studentsstudentsOne class period – 75 minutes in

language resource center. One other follow-up planned, but

cancelled due to snow. Handout in English, but with

German Vocabulary. HandoutStudents receive a timeline of

blog entries: Timeline


Post and Comments: Blog Post and Comments: Blog PostsPostsBlog posts:

◦Students author posts on topics relating to the chapters of our textbook.

◦I make corrections in a comment box.

◦Students make final correction in another comment box.


Posts and Comments: Posts and Comments: Blog PostsBlog Posts


So far students have authored 3 blog posts in the following categories:◦Wir über uns (Review chapters 1-6)◦Unterwegs in Graz (chapter 7)◦Restaurantforschung in NYC (chapter

8)

Posts and Comments: Posts and Comments: Blog PostsBlog PostsRestaurantforschung


Posts and Comments: Posts and Comments: Blog PostsBlog PostsBack End of Post:




Front end of Post:

Posts and Comments: Hot Posts and Comments: Hot TopicsTopicsThe Task:

◦Every student will write about one topic they are interested in throughout the semester. They will be authors.

◦The other students have to comment on all the hot topics except their own.

◦So far 4 students were supposed to write hot topics. Topics were: Olympic Games The White Ribbon David Hasselhoff


Post and Comments: Hot Post and Comments: Hot TopicsTopics


The Post:

Post and Comments: Hot Post and Comments: Hot TopicsTopicsComments:


Assessment: GeneralAssessment: General


Assessment: Authored Assessment: Authored PostsPostsAssessment:Assessement through the use of

rubics:


Assessment: Hot TopicsAssessment: Hot TopicsAssessment:Focus is on writing and

expressing ideas, so I give feedback only one time without correction suggestions.

Author and Commentators get an assessment sheet


Evaluation of BlogsEvaluation of BlogsStudent Questionnaire:


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers


General1. What do you like about using a blog?

1. I like being able to interact with the class outside of the classroom and respond to others’ posts.

2. I like the interactive/multitasking possibility that using a computer opens to us.

3. It gives you a chance to write out and think through relatively long pieces of writing compared to say tests. That is fun. The interactivity is also good.

4. It is well organized and very easy to write and correct posts and comments.

5. Being able to exercise German in real life situations.6. I find writing German the most difficult task we

do in class, so writing on the blog is much needed practice, and the format of comments and short posts is much less intimidating than essays would be.

Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers


2. What don’t you like about using a blog? 1. I am not spectacular with technology, so sometimes

figuring out posts or comments is tricky.2. Typing, I am so slow and I find hard to check my

errors on the blog.3. Not much - it is an interesting addition to learning.4. Not much, I find it very intuitive.5. It’s a bit difficult to navigate through the page.6. Sometimes the interface can be clunky – but I have

been getting more and more used to using the blog. More daunting is the task of using the somewhat general vocabulary we get from Kontakte to talk about very specific issues like Olympics or David Haselhof. The posts we had about restaurants or travel I found easier to handle, whereas with the hot topic posts I often feel I am looking up much of the vocab I need to say something substantive.

Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswersTechnology3. How do you like using this kind of technology

in the language classroom? 1. I think it is good because it is more progressive and

people can better interact. You’re not wasting a lot of paper copies in submitting things online.

2. This kind of technology is very helpful and can improve our language skills.

3. You can see how other people tackle similar questions. Can learn from the process of writing and reading.

4. Very much so. It adds variety; using Word for all essays can become boring and tedious.

5. It’s great.6. I think the technology is quite intriguing and

makes for good practice, even if it does sometimes feel like the most difficult thing we do.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers4. How easy/hard to use do you find this kind

of blog technology? 1. I find it manageable.2. I find it very accessible but as an old school

person I prefer to write with my faithful Bic pen!

3. Relatively easy - though I sometimes find understanding what is wrong/correcting it tricky.

4. I find it very easy to use.5. It’s moderately difficult to use, though that

may be because I’m not a technology guru.6. There is a learning curve with the

interface, but it is mostly pretty intuitive.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswersBlog Entries relating to chapters5. Do you like expanding the chapters’ topics in a

blog entry? Why? 1. Yes, it helps refresh what’s going on in the

chapter before we take our exams.2. I really like it because we can broaden the

topic thanks to the internet and discover many things that we will not able to using 100 books.

3. Yes because, as mentioned, it gives a chance to do extended thinking in German on topics we are learning.

4. Yes, it adds another layer of thought that helps retention of the course material.

5. Yes, it helps reiterate the information.6. Yes, as I said, these posts can make the

concepts and vocab we learn in a chapter stick more.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers6. Do you feel that in working with the

blog, you were able to recycle the unit’s content and practice the grammatical features? 1. Yes, I feel like the blogs really helped with my

grammar.2. Definitely and add to them new content.3. Yes, if I deliberately set out to incorporate the

unit's content.4. Yes5. Yes6. Yes. I’m definitely not always successful, but

do make an effort.

3/27/10

NECTFL 2010/ Heller/Schmiers-Heller 56

Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers7. Do you feel that working with the blog has

helped you to better retain the content and the grammatical features of the unit?

1. Yes.

2. Yes even though I would prefer to handwrite, my old memory works better when I can stain a piece of paper and see all my mistakes.

3. Yes.

4. Yes.

5. Yes

6. Yes


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers8. What do you think about making/seeing

corrections in the blog itself? 1. It is beneficial.2. It is paramount and only by seeing corrections I can

improve.3. I find this the trickiest part as often am not sure

where/what corrections to make.4. It allows for an easy correction process. Also, seeing all

the individual steps towards the final essay on one page allows one to focus better on what needs improvement.

5. It’s a fantastic way to keep up with and to reinforce the material.

6. It is useful, although I sometimes feel like I make the corrections but am not always sure of the reason behind why what I did was wrong and why the correction is right – sometimes the corrections feel a little more about getting the writing right rather than understanding why the original writing was wrong.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswersHot Topic Entries 9. How do you like the idea of writing a blog

entry on a topic that you have chosen? 1. I like it because you can pick something

that’ interesting to you and apply the German you have learned to express yourself.

2. I think that the hot topic entries should be somehow “regulated” by the professor.

3. This is fun and topical. Better than formulaic example to write about from textbook.

4. I really enjoy it. I have a lot of fun applying what I know in German to topics of my choosing.

5. It’s a fun and interesting idea.6. As I said, these are the most difficult

entries, but for that fact, probably also some of the most useful practice.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers10. How do you like reading the responses of

your classmates and responding to them? 1. I like it because it helps me get to know

more about people in the class and what their interests are.

2. Sometimes it is interesting, sometimes it is not.

3. Again, enjoyable, especially as we are all at level where it is possible to read and understand the whole thing in German.

4. I also enjoy it, it facilitates discussion.5. It’s great to see how classmates respond.6. I like it a lot, especially in a small class where

we get to hear and read everyone’s thoughts.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers11. To what extent do you think do these

entries help your German? 1. I think that they are very helpful.2. It helps as I am practicing the language and

learning new words.3. Sorry to reiterate but yes they do because you can

engage in longer sentences/structures than most other works we do.

4. I feel that it helps my German a lot.5. A great deal.6. The process of sitting down and thinking

through what I want to say forces me to think about, remember, and try and retain the grammar lessons we’ve used. The blogs are definitely application of the concepts though – sometimes I feel more could be done in class to understand and remember the concepts outside any application before we jump to contextual applications.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers12. How useful do you think is a blog as a

learning tool in the foreign language classroom?

1. I think it’s very useful because you are still interacting with classmates and practicing outside the classroom.

2. A blog is a very useful tool and can let us practice in a different and multitasking manner the foreign language.

3. Useful as an additional tool, not the main one. Did not have it in Spanish class and think it would have helped.

4. I feel that it helps my German very much.

5. Very useful.

6. Quite useful.


Evaluation of Blog: Student Evaluation of Blog: Student AnswersAnswers13. Do you have any suggestions for other ways we

could use a blog in our classroom? 1. No.2. I think it could be helpful to create a sort of

“database” with the more important/useful/common words, verbs, adjectives and adverbs which can be updated throughout the semester.

3. We could perhaps talk about hot topics in class more or do presentations on topics etc?

4. One idea is to use the blog to discuss concepts that are difficult or vague if more clarification is needed then what can be provided during class time.

5. Maybe use it more as a short discussion forum, to foster better communication skills.

6. Nothing other than what I said earlier.


Evaluation of Blogs: Evaluation of Blogs: InstructorInstructorStill debating the usefulness of

correction of blogs within blog. Student comments confirm – more work there.

I am feeling a bit behind on the blog issue, so I am surprised that students see it so positively.

I do see it as a valuable tool.


Blog FutureBlog FutureFor this class:

◦Get German students involved for this particular project.

◦Use it to discuss a film.Continue to use it:

◦2nd half of semester in Intermediate II◦Intensive Beginning German I and II

summer courseInvolve graduate students in the

use of blogs.


LiteratureLiteratureDucate, L. and Lomicka L. (2008).

Adventures in the blogosphere: from blog readers to blog writers. Computer Assisted Language Learning. 21-1, 9-28.

Godwin, J. (2008). Emerging Technologies. Web-Writing 2.0: Enabling, Documenting, and Assessing Writing Online. Language Learning and Technology. 12-2, 7-13.

http://edblogs.columbia.edu/http://www.lynda.com (training videos)http://www.smashingmagazine.com/

2008/08/29/10-weblog-engines-reviewedhttp://www.wordpress.org

◦ http://codex.wordpress.org/Roles_and_Capabilities


ready, set, blog! –web 2.0 technologies in foreign language classrooms nectfl, march 27, 2010...

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word blog

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