Adventures in Teaching and Learning

An interesting way to “read” stories can be found here. Penguin are involved in telling stories where you can follow the footsteps of the characters on GoogleEarth, or read their blogs and follow using Twitter. Very interesting … I have just read The 21 Steps, and the second story, Slice, is on the go now. A very “Web 2.0″ way of telling stories!

Altar at Easter Vigil

Originally uploaded by skambalu.

Thought I’d share the interior of my church this Easter. It always looks lovely, and this year was no exception!

Flag: Malawi

Originally uploaded by christopher.vanbelle.

And here is Malawi’s flag – kwacha – the dawn.

Zomba Plateau

Originally uploaded by nchenga.

I have uploaded a lot of my own photos from the Easter Vigil – Happy Easter everyone! But being on Flickr, I thought that I might share with you some images from other people who have been fortunate enough to have been to Malawi! I lived on the slopes of Zomba Plateau a few years ago. Good memories on a cold day!

Today I am sharing with you my podbean account. I have recorded a few episodes that my GCSE auditory learners can download and listen to, rather than reading the Revision Guide. I’ve linked the podbean site to my GCSE blog, so the episodes do not use up lots of room on my blog.

It will be interesting to see how many of my students decide to take advantage of these audible revision aids. I might include one as a voki on my site to encourage them to see what’s available as well … If anyone else is teaching Edexcel Catholic Christianity, feel free to use them too.

NOTE: I’ve since discovered Amy’s GeographyRocks podbean account, which has some great student interviews about migration! An excellent example of how podcasting can be used with students to share ideas.

I’ve decided to have a scout around to try and find some pupil blogs that can inspire me and other teachers to begin using blogs with students, not just for students. (I should point out that I have not necessarily had the opportunity to look at these blogs intensively myself yet – I am listing them here partly to help me look at them in more depth later, when I have more time!)

First of all – how to use a student blog. Also, I have just discovered this article reflecting on one teacher’s introduction of blogging to their class. David Muir has written a numpty’s guide to classroom blogging that might be of interest. He also referred to the Cool Cat Teacher’s post on Excellent Classroom Practices with blogging.

http://www.readingbus.co.uk/ReadingBusBlog/

http://www.sandaigprimary.co.uk/blogs/

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/connected/blogs/pupils/

http://clunburypupils.ethink.org.uk/

http://www.cagse.com/wordpress/?page_id=175

http://kingsroad.learningspaces.net/blog

http://geographyrocks.podbean.com/ – Geography Podcasts from another Transformation Teacher!

I hope that gives you a few ideas to begin with … please let me know of any other good student blogs that could inspire other teachers to set them up with our own pupils!

I was very warmly welcomed by teachers at the Marist Senior School today. I hope some of you complete your “homework” and leave a comment here! Perhaps it would be useful to complete your SWOT analysis of blogging. Mine is below. You can add your comment by clicking on the comment button.

I was sorry that we were not able to get onto edublogs to start up your blogs – I think perhaps so many people trying to sign up at the same time might have been too much for them! I hope you are able to get onto it either at home or later in school. I look forward to seeing how your blogs develop, and hearing how you might decide to use them with classes.

Please visit some of the links on the post below; they provide useful hints for setting up and managing your blog as well as examples of how they can be used with students.

Most of all, have fun – and feel free to leave any comments or questions!

SWOT Analysis of Blogging

S – increased engagement and participation; good way to start discussions and consider audience.
W – Often linear; can be addictive and therefore time consuming; sites can crash!
O – A place to update homework and provide useful links that the parents can also see; good for the environment, if weekly newsletters home are posted here instead of being printed out.
T – Cyber safety – students need to be educated in what (not) to reveal about themselves, for example. Some “safe” blogs can have links to other sites that might not be so “wholesome”.

What is your SWOT analysis of blogging?

Sean the Bass Player has some advice for other students out there. And he’s from Perth!

Interesting to read about the BBC school initiative. There are lots of links to the articles covered by a variety of school pupils. I particularly enjoyed this article about the use of mobile phones, including a video filmed on a mobile phone. In the “Video and Audio” section I loved the video from Plockton High School – “the most picturesque village in Scotland”, I believe – about how to be a traditional Scot. Of course, I’m biased! Another excellent video was about Deptford Green School’s “Love Your Toilet Week” – what a great idea! They had a competition between the girls and boys to see who could keep the cleanest toilets … wonder if that’s an idea other schools could pick up on?!

What do you think? Which articles have inspired you?

It’s always nice to think again about the purpose of blogging. I’ve just watched an interesting Teachers’ TV video on Building Blogs, which highlights some of the benefits of blogging. I also want to include some links to other sites that are reflecting on blogging:

What is a blog?

Using blogs in the classroom

A Guide to Web 2.0 in education

This site is almost like a step by step inset on blogs!

Anytime, Anywhere Learners

Edublogs: Ten Ways to Use Blogs to Teach

APS Training Blog: All you need to know about setting up a blog!

Some subject blogs (NOTE: blatantly copied from Judy Jakes’ Transformation Teacher Programme Blog. I have added some more blogs, but I should point out that I have not looked at every blog recently, and in some cases I have only given the blog a cursory glance, especially if it is not in my specialism! However, I hope that some may be of interest to some readers. Some of these blogs are in their early stages, but I have added them here in the hope that over time they may develop more, perhaps by being encouraged by others passing by and sharing ideas! Please feel free to add more blogs that you have found useful in the comments page. Also, if I have linked to your blog, and you would prefer me to remove the link, please let me know via the comments and I will be happy to do that. Happy blogging everyone!):

RE Blogs
http://www.nodehillre.typepad.com/
www.stmre.edublogs.org
www.rsteacher.edublogs.org

MFL Blogs
http://blogfrancaisdepps.edublogs.org/
http://www.nodehillfrench.typepad.com/
http://shopkins.wordpress.com/
http://joedale.typepad.com/
http://www.mfle.typepad.com/tgs/
http://www.northgatemfl.co.uk/
http://misspicado.edublogs.org/
http://mrgridelli.edublogs.org/
http://mfle.typepad.com/queensferryhighblogs/
http://isabellejones.blogspot.com/
http://edgehillcollege.typepad.com/
http://www.nataliagarcia.typepad.com/nodehillspanish/
http://whatsit06.blogspot.com/

English Department Blogs
http://fernhillbookworm.blogspot.com/
http://baldworm.blogspot.com/
http://thegothic.edublogs.org/
http://themonologue.edublogs.org/
http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/aliceeardley/
http://www.macmillan-academy.org.uk/Navigation/Depts/Eng/english.php
http://www.earlymodernweb.org.uk/emn/index.php/archives/category/blogs/
http://www.ea.e-renfrew.sch.uk/woodfarm/SubjectInfo/English/engdefault.htm
http://www.english.heacademy.ac.uk/explore/resources/technology/advocates.php

Geography
www.Geogtastic.blogspot.com
http://geogtastic6.blogspot.com/
http://www.highergeogblog.blogspot.com/
http://kespilotgeography.blogspot.com/
http://www.geobytesgcse.blogspot.com/
http://noeljenkins.wordpress.com/
http://www.gmpay.blogspot.com/
http://geographyjazz.blogspot.com/
http://geodonn.blogspot.com/
Becta
http://www.macmillan-academy.org.uk/Navigation/Depts/Geog/Geog.php
https://php.radford.edu/~geog-web/GeogBlog/?cat=3
http://neatherd.org/subjects/geography/
http://thegeographydepartment.blogspot.com/

Maths
http://www.ncetm.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=17&module=blog&mode=100&blogid=2
http://www.ncetm.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=13&module=res&mode=100&resid=2805
http://blog.gwright.org.uk/articles/page/5
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/jonesieboy
http://www.atm.org.uk/reviews/books/ks3-maths-assessments.html
http://www.atm.org.uk/reviews/books/teaching-maths-different-learning-styles.html
http://webblog.ethink.org.uk/2006/12/06/numbers-day/
http://radclifferiverside.com/live/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=45&
http://sixthform.info/maths/
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/paulgoodall
http://dhenderson1.edublogs.org/
http://jbaker.edublogs.org/

Design & Technology Blogs
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/mgscdt
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/mgscdt/2006/11/09/welcome-to-the-cdt-department/
http://www.topblogposts.com/
http://www.geography-site.co.uk/about/blog/2006/11/geography-and-food-technology.html

Science
http://sciencehsfc.blogspot.com/
http://genesandhealth.blogspot.com/

ICT Blogs
http://www.ictict.me.uk/article11/article11.htm

Citizenship
http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/?cat=3

Classics
http://www.cagse.com/wordpress/

General
http://flux.futurelab.org.uk/
http://ppslibrary.wordpress.com/
http://politicsclub.wordpress.com/
http://stmarysbb.edublogs.org/
http://radiohigh-djs.blogspot.com/
http://alupton.edublogs.org/
http://www.swanwicklinks.blogspot.com/
http://www.sandaigprimary.co.uk/pivot/johnjohnston.php
http://apsbookweekblog.edublogs.org/

Finally … wikis … are you a blogger? Have you added yourself and your blog to the English Edublogger Wiki? Or the Scottish Edublogger wiki? And there’s even a wikipedia page for edubloggers, so if you are interested in blogs from elsewhere in the world, follow the links!

HAPPY BLOGGING!

NOTE: Thanks to Isabelle Jones for her comment, and for the great links she has on her bloglist on her site. She directed me to John at Sandaig Primary who has an excellent post on how to start blogging – highly recommended!

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Is it just me, or are there loads more MFL blogs than for any other subject?! I’m especially keen to find other RE Blogs! Please do let me know if I haven’t included your blog, or if you have a favourite blog I’ve missed out!