Rusty's+Blog+Lesson

Students will learn how to create their own blog as well as locate, read, and respond to other classmate blogs. Students will also be introduced to RSS feeds to keep up with classmate blogs. Technology //** **//which will be used //** The two web 2.0 tools students will be using are blogs and RSS feeds. Brief explanation of how the technology will be used //** Students will be using wordpress to create their blogs and google reader to organize and keep up with their classmates blogs. Throughout entrepreneurship class, students will be creating their own company. The blogs will be a way for the students to write down their thoughts and ideas about their business and share them with the rest of the class. This tool will also alow them to receive feedback from classmates also. Google reader will simple allow students to keep up with each others blogs without having to constantly check each individual blog for updates. Description of what behavior is expected of students //** Students are to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it towards the company they are building throughout the semester. Blogs should reflect that students have put thought into coming up with their own unique ideas and plans for their companies. Process or steps for teaching //** 1) Students will receive, by email, an invitation from the teacher to create a gmail account before this lesson. 2) We will go to the computer lab to learn this lesson so that everyone can actually work on this and create accounts while they are being introduced to the technology. 3) Students will go to wordpress.com and create an account and a blog page. I will also be in wordpress on the overhead to guide the students. Once everyone has an account, I will show them a few basics in wordpress. 4) Students will go into my student share folder and post the address of their blog pages in this folder. This will allow the students to have access to each others blog sites. 5) Students will then go to gmail.com and click on reader (they should already have their google accounts by this point). Again, I will have this up on the screen to help them see where they are going. Students will look in the student share folder for site addresses and begin subscibing to the blog of everyone in the class. 6)Students will then have the rest of class to navigate through and play with wordpress and google reader. By the end of the period, students are to have their first blog post up. This first post only needs to be three to four sentences on the idea they have for their companies. What actions you will take and how do expect your students to respond if they find inappropriate content? //** If students find an innappropriate comment on their blog from someone outside the classroom, students are to delete it immediately and look no further into it. If another student leaves an iappropriate comment on someone’s blog, that student should email the teacher immediately and send a link as well. If a student post innappropriately on his blog, action will be taken here as well. Any student missusing these tools will have a phone call home to inform the parents. The student will also have a meeting with me to discuss appropriate and innappropriate use of this technology and a consequence. Citations for any sources used //** Using outside sources is fine, in fact I encourage it. If students do use them though, they are expected to post a link on the blog.
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Dear families,
 * //__<span style="font-size: 22pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Permission Letter __//**

Throughout the next semester, your sons will be creating their own companies in this class. As part of this process, they will be using blogs as a way to write down their thoughts and ideas for this business. The neat things about blogs in this class is that they will allow students to receive feedback and comments, not just from the teacher, but from each other as well.

The only extra that is required for this assignment is having internet connection. We will create the necessary accounts during class, so when it comes time to blog students only need to log in and start typing. Our computer labs our open an hour before and after school should they be needed for these assignments.

I already mentioned that they would be interacting with other students, but did I say they would also be from other classes too! Reaching people that you normally would not have connected with about this is one of the beauties of this tool. Students taking the same subject, but in different class sections will now have a way to connect to each other! Since this is being done on the web, people from outside the class could read and comment on them. However, especially when we change the settings so that our class blogs do not come up in search engines, it is unlikely that others will find them. These blogs will be monitored and assessed by the teacher. Parents are also invited to get involved these blogs. You too could read and comment on them and be part of the students learning process! Security //** <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> The only identifying information on this blog will be your son’s first name. Students not to mention their last name, phone number, school, address, etc. This is to ensure your son’s safety. This blog will be your son’s space where he can post his own thoughts and ideas, but we want to take all the necessary provisions in order to minimize the risk. Assessment //** <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Student blogs will count towards the quarter and semester grade just as any other assingment in this class. The blog will assessed by a blog rubric, which the students have already seen and have a copy. Permission //** <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Before we begin this journey of introducing new technologies into the learning environment, I am asking that you and your child read and discuss the following form. Pleas sign and return this form after you have done so. Blogging Terms and Conditions //** <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">1) Students are expected to use this blogging tool safely and responsible. You are agreeing to give out NO personal information of any kind, including your username and passoword. Your personal information is just that, pesonal. 2) Students will use proper language and not site any inappropriate material on their blogs. If you wouldn’t say it in the classroom, don’t say it in your blog. 3)In the event that an innappropriate comment from someone outside the class should show up, students are to immediately delete the comment, notify the teacher, and not look into it any furhter. 4) While discussion is encouraged and disagreement is alright, always be respectful when responding to other classmates blogs. 5) Students who do not abide by these terms and conditions may loose the opportunity to take part in this assignment.
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I have read and understand these terms and conditions and agree to them.

Student Signature Parent Signature Date Date