Writing 2.0 :Blogging for an

Audience

Aman Dhanda

Technology Today How do your students use technology in their

daily lives. At home and/or school

Common Theme

COMMUNICATION/AUDIENCE!

Big Question Why not incorporate

this appeal of both technology and audience into writing in the classroom?

Rational Providing an

immediate audience for student work, through blogging, can provide even the most reluctant writers with enjoyment and motivation in writing.

What in the world is a A weblog, or blog, is a webpage that can be

created and easily updated by adding “posts”, or entries.

Each new post has a date stamp. Each post has a “comment” section where

visitors may leave comments for the author. Example: http://a3wp.edublogs.org

What are the benefits of blogging? Motivation in seeing words published An innovative way for students to engage in

reflective writing Students write more credibly, accurately, and

carefully for an audience other than their teacher

Allow others to respond and provide feedback

Edublogs www.edublogs.org

Free Created for educators Not password protected (yet) www.wordpress.com (this site has more privacy

settings than Edublogs)

Example: http://missdhanda.edublogs.org

Other Examples 5th Grade ELD:

http://mercereld.edublogs.org Kinder:

http://woodlandrm3.blogspot.com Junior High:

http://mr-fisher.edublogs.org High School:

http://central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/mcjournalism College:

http://professorluongo.blogspot.com Many, many, many more:

http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers

Student Work Stephen- Below Basic

http://dhandastudent13.edublogs.org Lupita- Basic

http://dhandastudent27.edublogs.org Alex- Proficient

http://dhandastudent4.edublogs.org Selena- Proficient

http://dhandastudent6.edublogs.org Ovie- Advanced

http://dhandastudent18.edublogs.org

Blog Comments Indicate an understanding of key ideas Provide a quality critique Share a similar learning or action Extend a student’s own understanding and

learning.

How do you teach students to make meaningful comments? Teachers could help early bloggers use

sentence starters to comment on their classmates’ posts.

Having students use sentence starters to comment helps them to avoid words like nice and good in their comments.

Leave a Comment

Comment Sentence StartersTo better understand One point that was not clear to me was …

Are you saying that …

Can you please clarify?

I wonder why…….

I wish I understood why…….

I don’t understand…….

I found myself wondering…….

To disagree I see your point, but what about …

Another way of looking at it is …

I'm still not convinced that …

To challenge How did you reach your conclusion?

What makes you think that?

How does it explain …

Comment Sentence StartersTo provide positive feedback One strength is …

Your idea is good because...

Your writing made me form an opinion about…….

This made me think about…….

This post is relevant because…….

I was reminded that…….

I can relate to this…….

This makes me think of…….

I discovered…….

Your writing made me think that we should…….

This is important because…….

To provide constructive feedback The argument would be stronger if …

Another way to do it would be …

What if you said it like this …

Another thing to consider is…….

Assessment Rubric that outlines the key criteria for determining

a student's grade, including use of: evidence engagement with the text whether or not a student responded thoughtfully.

Writing in a Wired World: Improving Student Writing Using a Computer, Stephen Valentine and Gray Smith forthcoming from Teacher Created Materials

Example Blog Rubric

OUTCOMEASSESSED

Beginning Developing Proficient Strong

1 2 3 4

Overall Use of Blogs Blog entries are few and generally simple retellings of personal events. No comments are made on blogs of others.

Almost all required blog entries and comments have been completed.

Five blog entries and five comments are submitted, though not all of them may give evidence of a substantial contribution.

Five blog entries and five comments are submitted, all of which are substantial. Beyond the required five, your blog includes many more reflections.

Intellectual Engagement with Key Concepts

Blog entries make no reference to issues raised through readings and/or class activities

Blog entries make some reference to issues raised through readings and/or class activities

Blog entries demonstrate awareness of most of the key issues raised through readings and/or class activities

Blog entries demonstrate engagement with the important issues raised through readings and/or class activities

Personal Response to Key Concepts

Blog entries show no personal response is made to the issues/concepts raised in the readings/activities

Blog entries convey little evidence of a personal response to the issues/concepts raised in the readings/activities

Blog entries convey evidence of a personal response to the issues raised in the readings/ activities, and demonstrate that the author is capable of reflecting on learning, technology, and society.

Blog entries convey extensive evidence of a personal response to the issues raised in the readings/ activities, and demonstrate the author's growth through reflection on learning, technology and society.

Engaged Writing Blog entries use incorrect grammar and syntax consistently, making it difficult for others to follow. No links are included connecting your thoughts to those of others.

Blog entries demonstrate some evidence of correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Audience will have little trouble reading your blog. An occasional link is included.

Blog entries show a good command of Standard English. No problems for your audience. Most blog entries include links.

Blog entries show a very good command of Standard English and have some flair and originality. Blog entries may contain multiple links.

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec296/assignments/blog_rubric.html

In Conclusion… “I understood immediately the thrill of seeing oneself in

print. It provides some sort of primal verification: you are in print; therefore you exist…Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without actually having to actually show up somewhere. While others who have something to say or who want to be effectual, like musicians or baseball players or politicians, have to get out there in front of people, writers, who tend to be shy, get to stay home and still be public. There are many obvious advantages to this. You don’t have to dress up, for instance, and you can’t hear them boo you right away.”

-Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird