On the class wiki site, post your favorite new Web 2.0 tool that has not been covered in detail in this class that you have discovered in this course or elsewhere. List the URL, what the tool is, and why you find it useful using the wiki template page. No duplication allowed-each page must be an original new tool. This can be done after reviewing the Unit 9 material, which covers more Web 2.0 resources.
Student Name: Ian Daecher
Title of Site: Kidblog
URL: www.Kidblog.org
Description of Site:
Kidblog is a free blogging site. Kidblog does have a premium version that allows for special features like connecting with other classrooms, personalized student themes, unlimited student accounts, and integration with GoogleDrive. It is free from ads.
Kidblog is a Web 2.0 tool that is designed specifically for classroom use. Teachers are able to set-up a blog site. From there, students use a code to log into the teacher specific site. While in their teachers' site, students have their own specific blog page. Students are then able to create posts for their own page or comment on others' pages. This allows students to share and collaborate with other students in the teacher-specific Kidblog.
Kidblog is powered by Wordpress and has a similar interface and toolbar that other Web 2.0 tools have. While Kidblog has its limitations with its audience (limited to students within the teacher's site), this does provide safety from people outside the classroom making inappropriate posts or comments. Teachers also have the ability to modify the settings for posts and comments. For example, teachers have the option to approve all posts and/or comments before they appear on the site. This prevents cyberbullying or poor blogging etiquette. All of these safety features make it appropriate for schools. Since the site is so safe, it is appropriate for students in any grade level that is able to word process. My recommendation is that it should be used for students in grades 3 and higher. There are some quirky features in the student posting and commenting section that might trip up students in primary grades. Also, I am unsure how primary students would do using keyboarding skills to type. Kidblog is a site that should be used for frequent posting and commenting. Students in high school might find the site limiting. There are not great features for adding visuals. Also, it is a limited audience and secondary students might appreciate sharing and collaborating their ideas outside of the people within their teachers' blog site.
Educational Uses of Site
Kidblog could be used for a number of different classes. I will give you specific example for students in an elementary classroom.
Reading: A Kidblog site could be set-up for students to share what they have been reading (like a reading journal). They could then comment on each others' journal posts. This would also give students ideas of other books to read. Kidblog could also be used for Book Clubs. Students would be reading the same book at the same time. They would then post their thoughts when they got to a specific chapter.
Writing: Students could publish their work to the site. This might work best for short stories or poetry. Students could then post their comments and critiques about the pieces.
Math: Working in small groups, students could be assigned a multi-step real world problem. They could demonstrate their problem-solving skills and math understanding while commenting on each others' work and thoughts.
Social Studies: Using Kidblog as a platform, students could take the role of a famous person they are studying in the unit or curriculum. They could post their major life occurrences during this time. Students would be able to use their creativity in their posts and comments to their fellow 'famous people' in the classroom.
Science: Using Kidblog as an online science notebook, students could record their thoughts and understanding. Multi-day projects could be done over Kidblog. Students predictions and observations would be posted and commented on by fellow classmates.
Review of Site
Kidblog is a great site for the classroom. It is safe from outsiders who may post or comment inappropriate remarks. It is safe from within because of the ability of the teacher to approve or delete posts or comments before they make it on the site. Kidblog gives students a chance to digitally share and collaborate. Students find the site easy to use and navigate.
From a teacher's perspective, the site is quick and painless to set-up. For those teachers who are familiar with Wordpress run Web 2.0 tools, they will find Kidblog easy to develop and manage as well. The only issue is the time spent managing the posts and comments. With 20-30 students posting and commenting, it is difficult to read and approve posts/comments quickly. Students want their work up on the site the minute they finish writing it. They take pride in seeing it on the Internet/blog, and they want others to comment immediately.
Unit 5.2A Assignment
On the class wiki site, post your favorite new Web 2.0 tool that has not been covered in detail in this class that you have discovered in this course or elsewhere. List the URL, what the tool is, and why you find it useful using the wiki template page. No duplication allowed-each page must be an original new tool. This can be done after reviewing the Unit 9 material, which covers more Web 2.0 resources.
Student Name: Ian Daecher
Title of Site: Kidblog
URL: www.Kidblog.org
Description of Site:
Kidblog is a free blogging site. Kidblog does have a premium version that allows for special features like connecting with other classrooms, personalized student themes, unlimited student accounts, and integration with GoogleDrive. It is free from ads.
Kidblog is a Web 2.0 tool that is designed specifically for classroom use. Teachers are able to set-up a blog site. From there, students use a code to log into the teacher specific site. While in their teachers' site, students have their own specific blog page. Students are then able to create posts for their own page or comment on others' pages. This allows students to share and collaborate with other students in the teacher-specific Kidblog.
Kidblog is powered by Wordpress and has a similar interface and toolbar that other Web 2.0 tools have. While Kidblog has its limitations with its audience (limited to students within the teacher's site), this does provide safety from people outside the classroom making inappropriate posts or comments. Teachers also have the ability to modify the settings for posts and comments. For example, teachers have the option to approve all posts and/or comments before they appear on the site. This prevents cyberbullying or poor blogging etiquette. All of these safety features make it appropriate for schools. Since the site is so safe, it is appropriate for students in any grade level that is able to word process. My recommendation is that it should be used for students in grades 3 and higher. There are some quirky features in the student posting and commenting section that might trip up students in primary grades. Also, I am unsure how primary students would do using keyboarding skills to type. Kidblog is a site that should be used for frequent posting and commenting. Students in high school might find the site limiting. There are not great features for adding visuals. Also, it is a limited audience and secondary students might appreciate sharing and collaborating their ideas outside of the people within their teachers' blog site.
Educational Uses of Site
Kidblog could be used for a number of different classes. I will give you specific example for students in an elementary classroom.
Reading: A Kidblog site could be set-up for students to share what they have been reading (like a reading journal). They could then comment on each others' journal posts. This would also give students ideas of other books to read. Kidblog could also be used for Book Clubs. Students would be reading the same book at the same time. They would then post their thoughts when they got to a specific chapter.
Writing: Students could publish their work to the site. This might work best for short stories or poetry. Students could then post their comments and critiques about the pieces.
Math: Working in small groups, students could be assigned a multi-step real world problem. They could demonstrate their problem-solving skills and math understanding while commenting on each others' work and thoughts.
Social Studies: Using Kidblog as a platform, students could take the role of a famous person they are studying in the unit or curriculum. They could post their major life occurrences during this time. Students would be able to use their creativity in their posts and comments to their fellow 'famous people' in the classroom.
Science: Using Kidblog as an online science notebook, students could record their thoughts and understanding. Multi-day projects could be done over Kidblog. Students predictions and observations would be posted and commented on by fellow classmates.
Review of Site
Kidblog is a great site for the classroom. It is safe from outsiders who may post or comment inappropriate remarks. It is safe from within because of the ability of the teacher to approve or delete posts or comments before they make it on the site. Kidblog gives students a chance to digitally share and collaborate. Students find the site easy to use and navigate.
From a teacher's perspective, the site is quick and painless to set-up. For those teachers who are familiar with Wordpress run Web 2.0 tools, they will find Kidblog easy to develop and manage as well. The only issue is the time spent managing the posts and comments. With 20-30 students posting and commenting, it is difficult to read and approve posts/comments quickly. Students want their work up on the site the minute they finish writing it. They take pride in seeing it on the Internet/blog, and they want others to comment immediately.