Blogging Lesson – Day Two

September 23, 2016

Prepared by: Jami Williams, Mexico High School, Mexico, Missouri

TARGET
Students will explore platforms and start their own blogs.

EDUCATION METHODS

  1. PowerPoint presentation
  2. Cooperative learning activity
  3. Hands-On
  4. Product generation

OBJECTIVES

  1. Level 1 (Basic) exploration of various blogging platforms
  2. Level 2 (Proficient) creation and implementation of personal blog

MATERIALS NEEDED

  1. Blogging PowerPoint Day 2
  2. Blog Checklist
  3. TodaysMeet (free online interactive brainstorming) – Teacher will need to become familiar with the software before implementing – it allows students to brainstorm with the teacher in real time as well as ask questions. The teacher can save the meeting and make it available to all students for future reference. For use at www.todaysmeet.com.

VERIFICATION

Steps to check for student understanding

  1. Teacher will do frequent comprehension checks in the form of Classroom Assessment Techniques (thumbs up, thumbs down; exit slip in the form of post-it note summary).
  2. This module will include a heavy amount of independent work and research. The teacher will act as a facilitator but will also benefit from research and contribution to the assets list that will be created throughout this unit for future use.

FLOW OF LESSON

  1. Suggested bellringer: What type of blog do you think this school needs? What would it be about?
  2. Teacher will present the Powerpoint.
  3. Teacher will instruct students to log in to TodaysMeet. Students should sign in using school issued email addresses and emphasis on responsible and respectful use should be discussed.
  4. Teacher will ask students to brainstorm ideas for blogs that can be linked to the media that will be produced by the class. For example, a blog that covers the daily announcements, sports, local happenings, savings for students, school board matters, clubs and orgs, fine arts, etc.
  5. Teacher will appoint one student to be the scribe and record the chosen topics as well as the students who will write them.
  6. Teacher and students will work together to hone the list down to something that everyone is interested in. Keep in mind, there might be more than one student who wants to write and that is fine. Students can share the blog or divide the responsibilities, for example sports may require girls coverage and boys coverage.
  7. Teacher will then allow students to pick their blog topic.
  8. Teacher will distribute the Blog Checklist and allow students the opportunity to explore all of the platforms.
  9. Students will select their personal platform and write their first blog post introducing themselves to the world as journalistic bloggers.

ALTERNATE ACTIVITY REQUIRING NO TECHNOLOGY

  1. Brainstorming can be done on white board as well
  2. Each student can relay up to the board and write their topic ideas, then relay up and write their name beside what they would like to write.

WRAPPING IT UP

  1. Exit slip: On famous person from history will begin blogging if you ask them to do so… who do you ask and why?

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Teacher may want to have students begin to write their bellringer answers and exit slips as entries on their blogs.
  • Teacher may ask students to comment on at least three or four other students blog posts once a week to make certain that students are reading them.