Search+for+Innovative+Uses+of+Technology+An+Individual+Project


 * Searching for Innovative Uses of Technology**

An Individual Project

** By ** ** Nicholas Provenzano **

= Case 1 =

1. Reference information (where you get it if it is a website; authors, article title, journal title, and date of publication if it is a journal article, report accordingly if it is other sources) A Grade 5 teacher and student weblog. Nettleton Elementary School in Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A **http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=59644**

2. A brief description of the case **A student and teach blog for students in 5th grade. Students post various assignments and thoughts on their individual blog that is linked to the main blog run by the teacher. Comments are welcomed by need to be approved by the teacher before they are approved.**

3. The purpose of the innovation **The purpose of the innovation is to get kids writing for a wider audience. It allows kids to reach out beyond their classroom walls and share ideas with people from all over the world. It also allows students to keep a running journal of what they are doing at school and at home. It gives kids the responsibility at a young age that can help them become better students in the long run.**

4. The technology and resources involved (e.g. facility, network, equipment, software, online program) **The teacher and students need a web-enabled computer and Blogmeister.**

5. What prior skills and knowledge are required of students? **Students need to have basic word processing skills. Bogging works very much like typing on a word document. If students have prior experience working on word documents, they will be able to transition into blogging easily.**

6. What are students asked to accomplish exactly (product or process) **Students are asked to post thoughts and ideas on the blog. It is treated as a personal place for the students to encourage them to freely express their ideas. Students have [|posted book reports] and journal entries during a [|field trip].**

7. What are the procedures of the project (steps to teach the technology skills)? **Students must sign and follow a blogging contract and an acceptable use policy after being taught the necessary skills to use blogging.**

8. What are the advantages of the project? **I think the advantages of this project are that it gives the students a space to call their own. Kids often feel they are writing because they have to. Blogging creates an atmosphere where students feel they are writing for themselves or their friends. Kids will more freely write if they think it is fun. Putting writing in a different context is crucial as we move more toward digital writing. Blogging helps students see the joy of writing and that is a huge advantage!**

9. What are the disadvantages of the project? **The major problem with blogging is the availability of computers. Each teacher that wants to use blogging in the classroom needs to have a good idea of the access students will have outside of school. If access is limited, the teacher needs to make sure enough time is given to students at school to complete their blogging.**

10. What types of effective instructional strategies are included? **Modeling is one that I see. The teacher also blogs on the site and that provides a good framework for the kids to follow. Whenever a teacher can model acceptable behavior, it will help the students become better.** **The blogging contract is also a nice way to make sure that kids know what all of the rules are when entering the world of blogging.**

11. What are the possibilities that the innovation can be transferred to other teachers, subject content and different school settings. **Blogging is one of the most versatile web tools available to teachers. It can be used for every content area. Math, science, art, etc. can all use blogs to share information and ideas. That is why Blogs are so important in education.**

12. Other resources/articles you used to evaluate this innovation. (You should find at least 2 other sources.) **Blooms Taxonomy Blooms Digitally –** Andrew Churches **[]** **This takes a look at Blooms and puts it in the context of digital media and tools.** **20 Reasons Students Should Blog –** Anne Mirtschin **[]** **This post gives powerful reasons why students should engage in blogging in the classroom.**

= = = **Case 2** =

1. Reference information (where you get it if it is a website; authors, article title, journal title, and date of publication if it is a journal article, report accordingly if it is other sources). **Otley All Saints C.E. Primary School - West Yorkshire, UK** **http://otleyallsaints.wordpress.com/**

2. A brief description of the case **A teacher is keeping a running blog of the events that happen at their school.**

3. The purpose of the innovation **The purpose of the blog is to share the events of the school with the community and the world. Students are encouraged to write comments on the posted blogs and start a dialogue with their peers in an on-line environment.**

4. The technology and resources involved (e.g. facility, network, equipment, software, online program) **The school uses WordPress and needs a computer to blog.**

5. What prior skills and knowledge are required of students? **The students who want to post comments need basic Word Processing skills. For adults, basic web browsing skills are needed to navigate the site.**

6. What are students asked to accomplish exactly (product or process) **Students are encouraged to leave comments on the blog. There is a tab that explains what a [|good comment] looks like so students can model that format.**

7. What are the procedures of the project (steps to teach the technology skills) **There is a stab that explains what goof comments look like and a tab that explains the [|blogging rules].**

8. What are the advantages of the project? **I think the biggest advantage of this blog is the fact that it records the events that happen at school. Parents can see what happens during school events when they are at work. It is a fun way to share what you do at school with the world. Kids feel proud of their school and want to share it with others. It also prepares young students to participate in online commenting. With proper instruction, these students will now right from wrong when they start to use the internet on their own.**

9. What are the disadvantages of the project? **Some might have privacy concerns with posting pictures of children at school on the internet, but as long as name are withheld, there is nothing to worry about. The way the blog is being used for this project, I do not see any disadvantages.**

10. What types of effective instructional strategies are included?
 * The Blogging Rules and Good Comment tab are excellent resources for the students to look at while working on the blog. **

11. What are the possibilities that the innovation can be transferred to other teachers, subject content and different school settings? **Again, blogging can be used for any content area. Students in the classroom can use it actively to share ideas, or teachers can use it to document the events that happen at school every day. The most important thing to note about blogging is that it is about sharing. Collaboration is key in the future these kids are entering. If teachers can start children working with each other, they will be better prepared for work when they get older.**

12. Other resources/articles you used to evaluate this innovation. (You should find at least 2 other sources.) **It’s not about Web2.0, It’s about learning!** – Jeff Utecht [] A great post that focuses less on the tools and more on the skills they support. **Connect the Dots: Students, Blogs and the Nobel Peace Prize** - Andy Carvin **[]** **A fantastic post that looks at the motivation behind blogging and the impact it has on students.**