As a Year 6 teacher, my class is about to begin a unit of work on web design. I’m now thinking it would be a good idea to get the children to create a blog as a website, based upon a subject they are passionate about.
That is an excellent idea. They will need to focus on audience and purpose and really think carefully about the fonts and colours they use. They should also consider how the content should be laid out, to make it easier to read on screen.
At university we were shown an example of a teachers blog and how it could be useful. He posted lesson ideas, useful website links or games etc. that he used in his class. He then evaluated them and suggested improvements for any teachers using the same lesson idea. Other teachers commented with similar useful suggestions or ideas and contributed their own experiences. As PGCE students this is a great resource and sparks off a lot of new ideas and thinking. It is also very useful to see more than one way of teaching a topic.
My cousin’s partner has written a book all about the life histories of writers who took pseuydonyms. Nom de Plume by Carmela C. Still trying to find a UK publisher.
They should edit their own work – but not everyone is able to spell or form sentences correctly. Sometimes in blog comments, other people often pick up on errors and quote them in their replies.
any thoughts on how to deal with the subject of children questioning the authenticity of the sources in blogs they read?
There is a tendency for us all to take as fact information we find on the internet, whereas blogs are merely personal opinions. Does a child understand this? How can we assist them in ascertaining the difference….?
This is a very important point. Children find it difficult to discern fact from fiction on the internet. This needs to be taught explicitly. One way is to get them to look at spoof websites and decide if the information is correct. This can then lead on to the pointers to look for to decide whether a website is trustworthy. Any information needs to checked from more than one source to ensure its authenticity and accuracy.
Yes, it can replace some of the MLE functions. It is different because it is open to anyone, whereas an MLE offers a closed environment – only for people in your class and/or school.
So what was George Orwell’s real name then?
His real name was Eric Arthur Blair – Wikipedia Entry
As a Year 6 teacher, my class is about to begin a unit of work on web design. I’m now thinking it would be a good idea to get the children to create a blog as a website, based upon a subject they are passionate about.
you are as ambitious as ever scottie
That is an excellent idea. They will need to focus on audience and purpose and really think carefully about the fonts and colours they use. They should also consider how the content should be laid out, to make it easier to read on screen.
I think that, if I gave it the time, I could seriously get into blogging. Work undone, chores left by the wayside…oh dear!
I think you would probably have some very valuable things to say!
At university we were shown an example of a teachers blog and how it could be useful. He posted lesson ideas, useful website links or games etc. that he used in his class. He then evaluated them and suggested improvements for any teachers using the same lesson idea. Other teachers commented with similar useful suggestions or ideas and contributed their own experiences. As PGCE students this is a great resource and sparks off a lot of new ideas and thinking. It is also very useful to see more than one way of teaching a topic.
Yes, teacher blogs are incredibly useful – especially as you say – when they also follow-up and change the posts based on their findings.
My cousin’s partner has written a book all about the life histories of writers who took pseuydonyms. Nom de Plume by Carmela C. Still trying to find a UK publisher.
Many posts and comments I’ve seen have errors and mistakes in them. Do the children edit their own work?
They should edit their own work – but not everyone is able to spell or form sentences correctly. Sometimes in blog comments, other people often pick up on errors and quote them in their replies.
So what was George Orwell’s real name then?
It was Eric Arthur Blair! Here is my source: Wikipedia
any thoughts on how to deal with the subject of children questioning the authenticity of the sources in blogs they read?
There is a tendency for us all to take as fact information we find on the internet, whereas blogs are merely personal opinions. Does a child understand this? How can we assist them in ascertaining the difference….?
This is a very important point. Children find it difficult to discern fact from fiction on the internet. This needs to be taught explicitly. One way is to get them to look at spoof websites and decide if the information is correct. This can then lead on to the pointers to look for to decide whether a website is trustworthy. Any information needs to checked from more than one source to ensure its authenticity and accuracy.
Could this replace some of the functions of our MLE system – eg. Book reviews, home learning etc.?
Yes, it can replace some of the MLE functions. It is different because it is open to anyone, whereas an MLE offers a closed environment – only for people in your class and/or school.