Blended Instruction with Blogs and Wikis for Young Learners
January 26, 2011
I’m so excited to be presenting together with the wonderful Shelly Terrell for the CO11 Free Online Conference. We’ll be presenting about Blended Instruction with Blogs and Wikis for Young Learners. Our session will take place on Saturday, February 5th at 12pm EST/5pm GMT. You can find more details about it here.
We believe blogs and wikis are amazing tools that can help us engage students in their learning. Not only are they really motivating for young learners, but they are also powerful resources to engage parents in their kids’ learning process. Shelly and I will be sharing our experiences using blogs and wikis and we’ll also be providing tips and ideas on how to use them effectively in the classroom.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
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About a Teacher 
How nice!
I can’t wait to see you both in action! I’m sure youll give us invaluable tips on how to work with blogs and wikis!
Looking forward to it!
Aww thanks Bruno! Really looking forward to seeing you there!
I’m excited!
Thanks Lauren! 🙂
It will be great!
Aww thanks Kelly! 🙂
Sounds great! Will look forward to it 🙂
Thanks so much Sue!
I´ll be away on holidays.
All the best 🙂
Thanks Jen! Hope you have a wonderful vacation!
I hope to be there and I’m very excited about seeing you and Shelly in action!
All the best
Janet
Thanks a lot Janet! I’m really looking forward to your session too! “See” you there! 🙂
Hi Greta,
I know how much you like working with Shelly – this is certain to be a very exciting presentation! I will be sure to tune in next Saturday. Have fun 🙂
Thanks so much Clive! I’m really excited (and freaked out) about the presentation! Thanks for your support! Looking forward to seeing you there!
I have to admit that before Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class, I didn’t understand how blogs or wikis could be so helpful. However, I have only been enrolled in EDM310 for one month and I’m already convinced they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I think it is great you are spreading your knowledge of wiki and blogs to other students. I am doing a summary of your past two posts on my class blog.
http://nelsonkaylaedm310.blogspot.com/
also twitter: KaylaNelson703
Hi Kayla! Thanks for your comment! I couldn’t agree more! Blogs and wikis are the greatest! There’s so many things that can be done. Students and parents love them too! I’ll be checking out your post! Thanks for sharing it! 🙂
Hello Greta. At first, in my head, I tried to negate the importance of blogs in education. I did this without ever creating or using a blog myself. I am pleased to say that my opinion has since changed and I am gaining insight and seeing firsthand the power that blogs have. Specifically I like how it aids in parental involvement which I believe is extremely important. I look forward to reading more information on your blog and learning more.
Thanks, Kevin White
Thank YOU Kevin! My students loved blogging last year. Not only were they really motivated to write, but it has also helped to create a great learning environment in my class. This has made me aware how important blogging can be! I’m really glad your opinion has changed! Thanks again!
Hello,
I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class, and I believe what you are doing is great. Blogs and Wikis are a great medium for students to express their thought and opinions on course material. The freedom these types of interactive teaching provide is a revolutinary process for both students and teacher; plus using such established methods to give parents an even greater insight into their child’s education can only aid in the continuing of these topics in the home.
I am also a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class. Blogs and wikis have opened my eyes in so many ways. I never had a blog until EDM 310, and I can honestly say I will be using blogs in my future classroom. Thank you for what your doing.
http://mohlertreyedm310.blogspot.com/
twitter: @trey_mohler1
Ms. Greta,
My name is Michael Armstrong, and I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class.
I enjoyed listening to your presentation. I really liked how you and Shelly are able to keep your students parents involved in the blogs and wikis. My wife is a teacher and she has trouble getting some of her students to do well in her class because some of their parents seem to not be able to keep up with what is going on in the classroom. I remember how good I felt when my mom and dad put my projects on the refrigerator and praised me for the good work I had done. I feel that the use of blogs and wikis makes these special moments of childhood easier accomplish. The use of blogs and wikis makes it possible for more than just the household you live in see the students work and praise them when they have done a good job.
I plan to use blogs and wikis to keep my students and their parents more involved. I will be posting a summary of your blog post and my comment on My Blog in a couple of weeks. You can also contact me on Twitter @mda326.
Thank you for your presentation,
Michael Armstrong
Hi! My name is Mary Ashley York and I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at The University of South Alabama. I was hesitant about blogs before this class! I didn’t have an interest in one and I would have never figured it to be a good idea for students to have a class blog! My mind has completely changed about this! BLogs are so useful and such a learning tool for students! I am happy to see you so passionate about this! After being in contact with teachers and students who also blog, my eyes have been open! I have learned so much from blogging and would recommend it to anyone!
Hi!
I wish I could have experienced your presentation! I am interested in finding out how I can effectively use blogs with my grade 8 EFL students (age 13). I am worried that there would be a lot of marking involved and that this marking would be hard to do online. Also, my school would not like for the students’ work to be available to just anyone on the public web. So far I’ve had students use the blog and wiki modules within moodle – but with mixed success. What am ı doing wrong?
:-)Karin
Greta, I am an EDM 310 student at the University of South Alabama. I was inspired after viewing your presentation on Creating A Safe Learning Environment. I agree that a safe learning environment is an essential component before learning can take place. I particularly liked the comment, “If one succeeds, we all succeed.” I also agree that parent involvement is another vital aspect in education.
Greta,
I think it is wonderful to hear about so many educators coming together on their own time in order to grow as professionals. It is very important to remember that teachers have to continue learning and growing just as our students do.
sorry to bump this fairly old posts, but wouldn’t overly emphasizing the usage of a wiki be a bit detrimental? ESPECIALLY for young students? Maybe I’m missing the point or a few open gaps, but I suppose supplementing the wiki with an emphasis on the fact that wiki should not be a basis to any knowledge, but more of a glimpse of the whole picture?
Besides that I agree with implanting blogging + wiki to students! Just a thought!
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