Saunders,+Caroline

=Caroline Saunders- Blog Unit, "Teaching Safe Behavior" Lesson, Permission Letter =

*Blog Unit
COURSE TITLE: English III SUBJECT AREA: English INTENDED GRADE LEVEL: 11th Grade LESSON THEME: Understanding Purpose and Tone through Blogging LESSON RATIONALE: Attempts at written communication are not effective if a writer does not have a firm understanding of the purpose of writing and the tone that is necessary for satisfying that purpose.

Lesson Plan for Assessments A and B The teacher will pass out a personal blog entry. Students will read the entry aloud, making notes as they read. Then, the teacher will divide the students into groups of five. • What is the tone in this entry? • What is the author’s purpose for writing? • How does he/she communicate the tone? • How does he/she communicate the purpose? • What are the strengths of the use of tone and purpose? • What are the weaknesses? Students will come together to discuss with the teacher the results of the small group discussion. “Now it’s your turn to write a personal blog. But first, you must write to persuade me of the topic about which you wish to write.”
 * Opening Activity:**
 * Small group discussion:**
 * Large group discussion:**
 * Introduction of next day’s class:**
 * Outside work:** Brainstorm personal blog topic, tone, and purpose in order to be prepared for tomorrow’s timed persuasion prompt.


 * ASSESSMENT A: Persuasive Prompt**
 * Students will demonstrate their understanding of the concept of writing to persuade by writing an in-class essay proposing their blog topic to the teacher for approval.
 * This activity will be a formative way for students to demonstrate understanding of persuasion and allow them an opportunity to practice this in a timed setting.

Your blog entries will be graded based on a rubric that we will make together in class. However, when I am assessing the effectiveness of your tone and purpose in the blog entries, I need to consider your thoughts as well. Directions: I need to be convinced first that they type of blog you are planning to write is valuable, ethical, and something that makes us both proud. Please write a one page persuasive essay in class that answers these questions to explain more about the tone and purpose that you would like to use for your blog. Use these questions in your brainstorming:
 * Persuasive Prompt**
 * What is your purpose for writing?
 * Why did you choose this purpose?
 * What tone did you feel best communicates this purpose?
 * Why do you feel this specific tone was best for communicating your purpose?
 * What specific vocabulary and other elements in your writing communicate this purpose and tone?
 * Will this tone and purpose present any ethical dilemmas?
 * Is there anything else you think I should know?

Students will analyze their own writing in their blog entries and the writing of two peers based on the rubric they created with the teacher in class, specifically focusing on tone and purpose and the standards required for ethical blogging. Publish Blog
 * ASSESSMENT B: Editing Process**
 * This activity will be a formative way for the teacher to assess student understanding of the blogging process and the concepts of tone and purpose. This is accomplished both through the critiques listed on the rubrics and through the way that students assessed the work of themselves and their peers. It also allows students an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of tone and purpose by analyzing what others have written and comparing it to their own writing.
 * Students will use their understanding of the technical and ethical aspects of blogging, their understanding of tone and purpose, and the incorporation of their self-assessment and peer assessment results to publish their blogs for public view.
 * This activity is formative in that is allows student the opportunity to demonstrate understanding by combining the various skills and concepts that they have experienced in this unit in a real world application.

To be used for SELF-assessment, PEER assessment, and eventually TEACHER assessment.
 * In-class Activity: Making the Rubric for Blog Entries**

Brainstorm what you feel are indicators of “Exceptional,” “Satisfactory,” “Needs Improvement,” or “Unsatisfactory” performance on the written blog entries, and we will discuss your thoughts together in class to determine how you will be graded on this task.

***"****Teaching Safe Behavior" Lesson**
__Objective:__ TLW understand the value of and will practice ethical, safe, responsible behavior when using Web 2.0 technology. __Technology used:__ Blogs, Social Networking sites, and Wikis __How the technology will be used:__ The teacher will use the technologies to show students examples of behavior that //is// ethical, safe, and responsible, and behavior that is //not// ethical, safe, and/or responsible. Students will review past usage outside the classroom and continue to use these technologies in the classroom using a class-designed rubric to determine if their past and current behavior has been/is ethical, safe, and responsible. __Behavior expected of students__: Students are expected to contribute to the class discussion that will determine the content of the grading rubric. The content of this rubric will ultimately be decided by the teacher, and once it has been finalized, students are expected to demonstrate in their online behavior the high quality behavior outlined on the rubric. __Teaching process:__ __Expected student response to inappropriate content:__ Students are expected to report any inappropriate content that is encountered in class to the teacher. Together (and possibly as a class), we will discuss what measure should be taken. Should we change privacy settings? Report an offensive post to a website? There are dozens of ways to respond, and the goal is to create a safe learning opportunity for students to analyze the correct way to respond.
 * Show examples of ethical, safe, responsible behavior
 * Show examples of behavior that is not ethical, safe, and/or responsible
 * Lead class discussion to determine rubric for assessing ethical, safe, responsible behavior
 * Lead class discussion of consequences for inappropriate behavior, both in society and in the classroom
 * PowerPoint presentation: "What to do when you encounter inappropriate content"
 * Student self-assessment (with rubric) of past online behavior
 * Classtime for online activities (student blogging, interacting on social networking, etc.)
 * Student self-assessment (with rubric) of current online behavior

*Permission Letter
Dear Parents,

In order to take our writing intensive curriculum to the next level, we will begin exploring the possibilities offered by Web 2.0 technology by creating personal Weblogs. A “blog,” as it is commonly called, is an online diary of sorts, on which writers have the opportunity to publish their thoughts on a topic of their choice. They do this via a series of entries or “posts,” and readers all over the world can comment on these entries. Blogging is a great way to publish writing and receive potentially international input.

Students will use this opportunity to practice the craft of writing and to demonstrate understanding of the concepts of tone and purpose in writing. Before beginning their blog, students must write a persuasive essay to convince me that the type of blog they are planning to write is valuable and ethical. In addition, they will need to convince me of the effectiveness the topic, tone, and purpose they wish to use in their blog.

In class we will create a rubric to measure learning. The rubric will be used to assess whether or not ethical standards are met and assess whether or not the concepts of tone and purpose have been mastered. When blog topics have been approved, and entries have been self-assessed, peer-assessed, and finally assessed by the teacher, students will be allowed to publish their blog.

Students will have opportunities to work on their blog entries during class, and they might need to work outside of class. All that is required is an Internet connection and a Web browser. Further instruction for working at home will be given during the first week of the project.

__Parent Participation__ The best thing about blogging is the opportunity for feedback. Each student will receive comments for me and from their peers. Parents are strongly encouraged to participate in this project by visiting the blogs to comment on student entries. It is possible, though not likely, for anyone on the Internet to respond to our blogs. However, because all comments must first be teacher-approved, we can ensure that the blogs remain a safe space.

__Security__ Security will remain a top priority throughout this project. Students will not release any personal information other than their first name. Our school name or location will not be mentioned on the student blogs.

__Permission__ Before students may start posting to their blog, they must sign the following form. A parent signature is required as well. Please return this form to Mrs. Saunders.

__Blogging Terms and Conditions__
 * 1) Students will practice safe blogging by sharing interests and ideas, but not personal information, including last name, email address, home address, school name, city, country or other information that could help someone locate or contact you in person.
 * 2) Students will not share their blog username and password with anyone other than teachers and parents. Students should never log in as another student.
 * 3) Students will not use inappropriate language or topics in blogs posts. If it’s not okay to say it in the classroom, it’s not okay to say it in a blog post.
 * 4) Students are expected to report any questionable blog comments to the teacher immediately. Students must not respond to the comment.
 * 5) Students are expected take good care of school equipment. They may not download software or use it for personal reasons.
 * 6) Students who do not abide by these terms and conditions may lose their opportunity to take part in this project.

I have read and understood these blogging terms and conditions. I agree to uphold them.

Student signature: _______________ Date: ________ Parent signature: ________________ Date: ________