Online Collaborative Tools

Blogs
Wikis
Podcasts

overview

What is a blog
Blogging in learning: its roles
Why blogging?
Blogs vs. Discussion Boards
Using blogs in the classroom
Types of blogs
Features
Tips
Planning your blog
Blogging software

What is a blog...?
a free, live online journal that can be easily
and instantly updated, written for a public who
may also write back.
... a personal diary of events and thoughts,
or a combination of the two, plus many other
things...

Weblogs can be seen

as....
a way to improve our own writing
a just in time learning arena
a place to share
an easy way to create a website quickly
a way to connect with others and make connections to
learning
perfect spots for quick writes
places to visit daily, which provide elements of surprise
places to collaborate

Why blogging...?
we can place lessons, assignments, and announcements online.
expand students access to relevant materials by incorporating
links
enhance class interaction through online discussions and chats
facilitate idea sharing
motivate and prepare students for class
maintain communication with absent students
challenge students by placing quizzes and tests online
get parents more involved by giving them access to their
childrens assignments

Blogs vs. Discussion

Boards
stds can start their
blogs easily
easy to link to other
websites
support discussion +
informational posts
may have good search
engines built-in
go public

stds cant start their own

DB
not generally so
imply discussion
not possible
are private

advantages of using blogs

They allow instant publishing to the Internet

They cost little or nothing
They provide a comment feature that allows interaction from others
They are dynamic and focus on content from the participants listening, talking, collaborating, having a dialog, sharing
They work for any subject
They are empowering - they give everyone a voice
They make writing THE focus - send the message that writing matters
They promote ownership of work
They allow us to learn from our students
They allow us to reflect on our teaching and our students learning
They allow the interchange of thoughts and ideas
They are exciting - seeing others comment on your
thoughts/anticipating comments and replies

Types of weblogs for use in EFL

classrooms
The Tutor Blog
The Learner Blog
The Class Blog

The Tutor Blog:

Run by the tutor

for the learner

Gives daily reading practice to the learners

Promotes exploration of English websites
Encourages online verbal exchange by use of comment
buttons
Provides class or syllabus information
Serves as a resource of links for self-study

The Learner Blog

Individual/ in groups
Best suited for reading and writing classes:
Reading assignment
Searching the web for sites to link, on the
topic.
Individual journals: writing practice; further
exchange of ideas is promoted

Mega-blogs can be run by tutors

The Class Blog:

In conversation-based classes: used like Bulletin Boards
to post messages, images, links related to topic/
thoughts
Interm./advanced levels: stds can create online
resources for others, developing research and writing
skills.
Virtual space for international classroom language
exchanges.

Teachers could develop

aclassroom blog to..........

post short current events/ articles to invite students thoughts, reactions, and
possible solutions
create a literature circle
post photos and ask students to create captions
foster book discussions in the form of an online book club
encourage student writing to demonstrate learning
direct students to curriculum web sites and have them read and make responses
communicate with another classroom
react to teacher entries about what they are learning and make connections to
how this learning is relevant for them
post quotes and have students write their interpretation and apply it to
something in their life
invite one student a day to post a summary and reflections on the day's
learning
observe the growth of plants or animals or keep records of science experiments
spot and record student kindnesses or good deeds
develop new vocabulary by writing about the new word and having students
create sentences or a brief paragraph using new vocabulary
enable students to post their ideas for the classroom or school
let student write short reviews of books they are enjoying reading

Teachers could create an

informational class blog
to ......
post a daily/weekly synopsis ofthe curriculum taught
publish homework assignments
give a birdseye view of the class for parents
honor and celebrate class achievements
list class-related information such as calendars, events,
homework assignments and other relevant class information
show examples of good students work and the teacher's
response to it
provide a day-by-day description of a specific teaching unit
take a moment out of the classroom day to share with family
and friends

Teachers could create a

reflective, journal type blog
to..........

share ideas for teaching activities to use in the classroom

share classroom technology management techniques
make reflections on each teaching day
explore important teaching and learning issues
provide tips for beginning teachers
spot gems of wisdom from the students in their
classroom on any number of ideas
produce how-to's on using specific technology programs
in the curriculum
keep a record of a new teaching project with what
worked and what didn't

You can have your students

create their own
weblogsto..........
complete class writing assignments
create an ongoing portfolio of samples of their writing
express their opinions on topics you are studying in class
write comments, opinions, or questions on daily news
items or issues of interest
discuss activities they did in class and tell what they
think about them
write about class curriculum topics, newly-learned
vocabulary words and idioms
showcase their best writing pieces

You can also ask your class to

create a shared weblog to...
complete project work in small
groups, assigning each group a
different task
showcase products of project-based
learning
complete a webquest

Features

Comment feature
Archiving entries
Linking
Permalink
Blogrolls
RSS feeds
Photos/images
Audio/video
Moblogging
Ipodding

Tips

Keep it simple at first

Nothing right or wrong
Use your creativeness to motivate stds
Dont linger on every posting
Post regularly
Commnet on your fellow classmates commnets
When quoting sources, give them credit
Write sth about yourself
Choose your links

Planning your blog

What purpose will it serve?

What name will you give it?
What content will it include?
How will you organize it?
Type of info?
Students postings?
What audience will it address?

Weblog software
without commercial advertising:

http://pitas.com/
http://diaryland.com/
http://www.upsaid.com/
http://webcrimson.com/
http://www.schoolblogs.com/
commercial software

http://www.blogger.com/

Wikis
piece of server software that allows users
to freely create and edit Web page
content using any web browser
a collection of Web pages which can be
edited by anyone, at any time, from
anywhere.

WorkInProgress

Authorship
Editing
Publishing
Re-writing
Un-publishing

Both allow uploading of files and

photos by different users
Blogs
structured
Highly personal
Focus: process
Administered by one
individual
Editable by creator
Chronologically
organized

Wikis
flexible
Intensively
collaborative
Focus: content
Open to anybody
Editable by anyone
Organized in
innumerable ways

Wikis
quick

content is egoless, timeless, and never

finished
in constant state of flux
automatic linking between pages within wiki
systems
entries: unpolished, with gaps
can help build an understanding of a
communitys shared knowledge

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Using a wiki for

instructions, manuals, glossaries
a class or group project with a
bibliographic format
a letter or statement presented on behalf
of the class
a handbook or textbook: build a guide to
correct punctuation
any project not requiring authorship

Podcasting

References

Blood, Rebecca. "Weblogs: A History and Perspective", Rebecca's Pocket

http://www.rebeccablood.net/handbook/
Sarah Lohnes, Weblogs in Education: Bringing the World to the Liberal Arts Classroom
http://newsletter.nitle.org/v2_n1_winter2003/ features_weblogs.php
Campbell, Aaron, Weblogs for Use with ESL Classes
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Campbell-Weblogs.html
Kristen Kennedy, Writing With Web Logs
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2003/02/ blogs.html
Teresa Almeida d'Ea, Online/Virtual Learning Environmentshttp://www.malhatlantica.pt/teresadeca/webheads/online-learning- environments.htm
Phil Gyford-An Introduction of Weblog Terms for Weblog Readershttp://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2003/01/05/an_introduction_.php
Anne Davis- Weblogs: The Possiblities are Limitless,
http://anvil.gsu.edu/NECC2004/stories/storyReader$13
http://anvil.gsu.edu/EduBlogInsights/
ESL/ EFL Weblogs http://anvil.gsu.edu/EV/
Will Richardson Blogging and RSS
http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan04/richardson.shtml

Sample Blogs

Michael Coghlans
http://mikecogh.blogspot.com/2005/07/greetings-to-those-at-rosario-efl.html
Teresa Almeida dEas
http://www.malhatlantica.pt/teresadeca/school/fwe5-feb05.htm
Ishbel Galloway
http://www.sfu.ca/~igallowa/blogging/
Diaryland
http://diaryland.com/
Sus Nyrups
http://mysteryguest.blogspot.com/
ESL + EFL friendly blogs with comments
http://www.eslgo.net/
Findory
http://www.findory.com/
Dafne Gonzalezs Student Vanessas
http://vanessamartini.blogspot.com/
vBlog Central
http://www.vblogcentral.com/
A Life in Wales
http://alifeinwales.typepad.com/a_life_in_wales/
Red is an Apple
http://www.schoolblogs.com/Val/
Our Class 2005
http://ourenglishclass2.blogspot.com/
CAE 2005 (my students)
http://cae2005.blogspot.com/
CALL SIG Rosario
http://callsigrosario.blogspot.com/