Blasting+Away+with+Blogs

“One of the reasons we fear these technologies is because we as teachers don’t yet understand them or use them. But the reality is that our students already do. It’s imperative that we be able to teach our kids how to use the tools effectively and appropriately because right now they have no models to follow.”

~ Will Richardson


 * Essential Question:** **How can classroom communication and collaboration be enhanced with the use of blogs? **


 * Connectivity and Warming Up**


 * Ice Breakers


 * Blog Definition/Description**


 * [|Blogs in Plain English]


 * Why Blog?**
 * Blogs in Education at LIM Resources Wiki
 * [|eMINTS eTHEMES: Using Online Journals and Blogs]


 * View Blogs**
 * [|Support Blogging Listing of School Bloggers]
 * [|International Edubloggers Directory]
 * Bloggers in Maine (Please add Maine education blogs that you are aware of . . .)
 * [|Jason Long in China]
 * [|Reflective Practice in Adult and Community Literacy]
 * [|Shawn's Journal]
 * [|Richard Byrne Blog on Free Technology for Teachers]
 * [|Maine Ideas in Education]
 * [|Diary of Virtual Basketball Player] - Example of fiction writing based on box score results
 * [|Ted Edward]- Journal of a teddy bear's journey through historic sights around the US (young student audience)
 * [|Technorati] - Site searches the top 100 blog hits 24/7 so you can see whats hot around the world


 * Create a Blog**
 * [|Sign Up for a Google Account]
 * [|Video Tutorial]
 * [|Make Your Own Blog]
 * [|Dashboard]


 * Beyond Text**


 * Photo Resources
 * Clipart Resources
 * [|Flickr]
 * [|YouTube]
 * [|TED]


 * Banner**
 * [|Remove Blogger Navigational Bar]


 * Search**
 * [|Custom Search Engine]


 * Promote Your Blog**
 * [|How to Grow a Blog]
 * [|Twitter]
 * [|Del.icio.us]
 * [|RSS]