Edvibes Blog

1) Go to Google Sites Overview Page watch the tour and read up2) If you don’t have a Google Account sign up for one

3) Watch some more tutorials :

How to create a new google site

How to edit a google site

How to embed content into a google site

4) Explore and start building

Check out and download the lastest evolution of the classic Bloom’s Taxonomy at http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom’s+Digital+Taxonomy

Click here to download the Top 100 Tools for Learning eBook

Education Conference Tracker

Hitchhikr: http://www.hitchhikr.com

A site that tracks all the major conferences in the education and technology arena.

Education Conference Networking

Attendr: http://attendr.com

A site that use google maps mashup to connect and network attendees

This is the single book that changed the direction of my career and my teaching philosophy. The cheap paperback has been finally released. An absolute must read for any educator or parent in the 21st century.

To order your copy online today from amazon click here.

First I shared my blog with some teachers at my school to create a little buzz. Then I invited 3 teacher leaders that I new have the basic tech skills down that would be interested in and willing to give blogs and try to a voluntary 40 minute blog PD before school. I thought it went pretty smooth all of them got their blog up and running by the end of the 40 minutes. Here is how I ran the session:

Google’s Blogger Training: How to Set Up Your Blog

1) show them my blogging resources on my ambrose.edvibes.com blog, so they don’t have to take notes and they can find more info later.

2) Familiarize the structure of blogs using my class blog classofambrose.blogspot.com
-Header
-Sidebar
-Reverse chronology
-Comments
-Labels
-Widgets

3) How to navigate through blogs
-Find a post through the archives
-Find a post through labels

4) Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship
-Share my blog contract

5) Set up a blogger acnt
-Need a google acnt

6) Name your blog and choose an address
-make it kid friendly: easy to remember and spell

7) Choose a background

8 ) Go through settings
*Must change commend moderation ON
*Put an email address to receive comments to moderate

9) Show dashboard navigation

10) Create a new post

11) Show WYSWYG editor
-Compose vs Html mode

12) How to add an image
-from computer
-from web

13) How to embed a youtube video

14) How to hyperlink

15) Adding labels

16) Customizing the layout
-add page elements (labels, link list)

Then I followed up with a support email giving them the link to my post What, How, and Why Blog.

Next time make a handout for them with the agenda and some links so they can take notes and have something to remind them of their blog later.

Blogging 101 - How to get started

What are Blogs?
Definition of a Blog: Here I give you some of the best definitions across the web from google and wikipedia

Video: Blogs in Plain English: Watch this 3 minute video that gives an excellent explanation about blogs

Anatomy of a Blog: Here I found some great diagrams and images that label and explain all the main components of a blog and a post that help you understand how blogs are set up so you can better navigate them.

What Blogs Aren’t: Read about the difference between Blogs and Websites, Discussion Boards, Social Networks, and Wikis

Why Blog?
Blogging Turns 10yrs Old!:This is a voice thread (power point slide with voice comments) that Steve Hargadon set up that celebrates blogging by having educators around the world comment about why they blog

Why I Switched From a Class Website to a Blog: This is a post I wrote explaining my rationale for switching from a class website (web1.0) to a class blog (web2.0).

How to be a Blogger?
Blog Rules & Contract: I believe it is very important to clearly set up your expectations and guidelines to make sure blogging is fun and safe for kids, here are my rules and contract

How to Enter the Edublogosphere: Finding Good Edublogs to Read: This is a post I wrote giving tips on how to enter the education blogging community and finding good blogs to read.

How and Why to Comment on this Blog: Is a post I wrote for my students on commenting

Beating Blogger’s Block: Blog Starters & Styles: A slide show explaining the different types of blog posts that help you to get started with writing your blog posts.

Sharing the Path to Building this Blog: This is list of some of more advanced customizations you can make for your blog

See Also
I Would Like to Share My Class Blog Now: Here you can check out my first elementary class blog

See all my posts on blogging here

See all my bookmarks and research on blogging here

This has been a part of the following series:

A Teacher’s Tour Guide into the New Read/Write Web2.0 - 11 Part Series

Part 1: Visual Definitions of Web2.0

Part 2: What is RSS: How and Why to Subscribe

Part 3: Setting Up your New Home(page) in the New Web

Part 4: What is Folksonomy - How & Why to Tag

Part 5: Social Bookmarking & News

The International Technology Society for Education has recently released the the National Education Technology Standards (NETS):

“The technology foundation standards for students are divided into six broad categories. Standards within each category are to be introduced, reinforced, and mastered by students. These categories provide a framework for linking performance indicators within the Profiles for Technology Literate Students to the standards. Teachers can use these standards and profiles as guidelines for planning technology-based activities in which students achieve success in learning, communication, and life skills.”

Technology Foundation Standards for Students

1. Basic operations and concepts
   • Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.
   • Students are proficient in the use of technology.
2. Social, ethical, and human issues
   • Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.
   • Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.
   • Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
3. Technology productivity tools
   • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
   • Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.
4. Technology communications tools
   • Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
   • Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
5. Technology research tools
   • Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
   • Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
   • Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks.
6. Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools
   • Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.
   • Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solvings problems in the real world.

I have found these standards helpful when planning technology integration in my class. They help me stay focused on what is the goal and purpose of the technology.

ITSE is the biggest education and technology association.  I wish I had found this earlier.

“Providing leadership and service to improve teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in education.”

“The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership for innovation. A nonprofit membership organization, ISTE provides leadership and service to improve teaching, learning, and school leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE represents more than 85,000 professionals worldwide. We support our members with information, networking opportunities, and guidance as they face the challenge of transforming education.

ISTE® is the registered trademark of International Society for Technology in Education.”

From their site  http://www.iste.org