Week+1-Day+2-+Beginner

Welcome to Day 2 of //Blogs and Wikis in the Secondary Classroom!// I hope that you have gleaned a lot of information already, and continue to learn as we progress!

[|Today's Lesson Plan]

TODAY'S ACTIVITIES:
1.[|View the tutorial] on creating a new blog using[| www.edublogs.org].

2. After making the above blog, reflect on the two. Fill in the [|Venn Diagram] comparing and contrasting your experiences and ideas for use with the Blogger site and Edublog site (//type directly into the document)//. Be prepared to share these response with the rest of the participants in the workshop.

3. You will each be placed in a group with other educators in other disciplines. In your groups, read the assigned article that focuses on the Constructivism approach to teaching:
 * 1) [|Group A Article]
 * 2) [|Group B Article]
 * 3) [|Group C Article]
 * 4) [|Group D Article]

4. After having read the article, you will now complete the related exercises. First, you will respond to several guided questions (independently). [|Click Here] for the worksheet. Then, link your response to the wiki site. [|Click Here] for a tutorial to help you upload your response. Title the wiki page //Constructivism.// After each participant is finished, we will discuss the answers.

5. Yesterday, I compiled a list of everyone's blog and wiki sites and emailed them in an Excel document. Take a few moments and select four other participants in the course. You will need their Blogger site (not edublog) link and name. Be sure that at least two of the individuals share your content area. media type="youtube" key="BYJC_agMj_o" height="275" width="379" You will now create an RSS feed for your Blogger site.
 * Once you made the RSS feed, create a blog post entitled **Constructivism in the (//insert content area here)// Classroom.** Then, outline a lesson for your content area explaining how constructivism of any sort will enhance student learning and achievement. Be as specific and detailed as possible, so that another teacher in your content area could easily implement the same lesson.
 * After you have made this post, visit the teachers' blogs who you share an RSS feed, offering comments and feedback.

The following power point will be necessary for the rest of the day's assignments: media type="custom" key="11280308" align="center"

6. See the ppt- //Implications for Blogs/Wikis.// Only view the sections on Improving Writing Skills and Increasing Critical Thinking Skills.
 * Go to your wiki site. Create a page entitled //Improving Writing Skills.// Then, write a detailed response indicating exactly how you will use a wiki in your content area to improve student writing and critical thinking. Once you are done, visit three classmates' wiki pages and offer feedback to their post

7. //See the ppt- Implications for Blogs/Wikis.// View the section Individual Study Help & Peer Tutoring
 * Go to your wiki site. Create a page entitled "Tutoring". Based on the students who are in your course, develop a tutoring plan that clearly outlines how the wiki is used to advance student learning. Identify the: audience, content area, frequency of posts, detail of tutoring program, evaluation of success, and notification of parents.
 * Think about: Will students alternate posting their issues? Will they be asked to upload their homework to look at the areas of concern? How often will the teacher access the wiki to offer feedback? Will students be graded on their participation or is it optional? What is the criteria for offering feedback/help? These are just a few questions to get you started. Please answer in outline form.
 * Go to other teachers' wikis (at least 3) and offer feedback to their wiki plan for tutoring. Does it clearly outline the audience, rules, criteria, methodology, etc? Most importantly, does it indicate how exactly students will obtain academic achievement that otherwise would not have existed?

8. Work fervently on the Technology Plan, soliciting help where needed.

9. Closure: //What information did you learn today about blogs and wikis? What additional information would you have liked to receive today but didn't?// Today, you will respond to the closure by clicking the **discussion** tab at the top of this page.