Blogs vs. Wikis

As many of you think ahead for the up coming school year, one thing that teachers who are wanting to explore something new in their classrooms is an online tool that their students can use.  We hear the buzz words of different tech tools all the time, and blogs and wikis come up often.  What's great about both of them is that they are simple tools to use and have longevity of use...a project could last as short or long as you want them.  So what are the differences?  Which one should you use?  Rather than explain it to you through written text, try checking out the videos below and see how they are demonstrated.  Also, why reinvent the wheel, right?

 

 

What is a Blog?What is a Wiki?Also, check out this blog post on " 5 Ways You Can Use Wikis With Students"

 

 

CUE Reflections Pt. 1: Linda Yollis’ Session on Blogging

The long anticipated annual CUE conference last week exceeded my expectations. There was so much I learned that I will be sharing about it and the resources I received in a brief series of posts. One of my favorite sessions was Linda Yollis’ “Blogging: Teaching Commenting Skills and Encouraging Parent Participation.”

When using a tech. tool in the classroom it is crucial to have an objective to make an impact on student learning. Through blogging Linda facilitates the building of writing skills, commenting on the web, content across the disciplines, digital citizenship, internet safety, learning beyond the classroom, and inclusivity of the community. If you visit her blog it may be hard to imagine doing it all, but Mrs. Yollis encouraged the session participants to start with one thing, her blog has grown over the years.

A few best practices:

• Linda starts the beginning of the school year by using the blog. She posts a welcome back video published the day before school and emails it out to the class. She invites people to introduce themselves and reviews the comments with the class. 


• Cluster map gadget you can use this for geography, but also for math. Put the number of vistors, and explained number placement. Also for math instruction, posting a word problem, then encouraging students to create a story with a word problem. 

Bonus: Linda finds her students are more concerned about perfecting their work since students can view this work from around the world. To quote another CUE speaker Rushton Hurley, "When students create for other students they want it to be good, when done for the teacher they make it good enough."

If want to learn more about how to use blogging in your classroom check out Linda’s online resources:

Check out her blog: http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/

Blogging wiki: http://educational-blogging.wikispaces.com/

Video made by Linda and her students on how to comment on the blog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NQj9dpADEaY

Linda Yollis Nominated for International Edublog Awards

 

 

Linda Yollis, a 2/3 combo teacher at Chaparral Elementary, class blog has been nominated for several international Edublog Awards!  The purpose of the Edublog Awards is to promote and demonstrate the educational value of social media.

She is nominated in the following categories:

1.  Best Class Blog -  Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog

2. Influential Post - Mrs. Yollis' "November is Family Blogging Month"

3.  Three former students are also nominated. You can choose! :-)
Come Somersault With Sarah (4th grader/Bay Laurel)

              Jaden's Awesome Blog (5th grader/Chaparral)

              Miriam's Magical Moments (5th grader/Bay Laurel)

 

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