Kite Runner Blog Project

So excited, another project.

Before break, I had a teacher ask me a question about the online course I facilitate. While I was in her room helping her, we somehow got on the topic of blogging.

She didn't know what it was, exactly. So I explained it and showed her a few examples. Her kids were in the room, so I did a quick, informal survey of how many blogged or read blogs. Not many hands. But quite a few when I asked about myspace.

After so follow up conversation, she decided she wants to do a blog for the kids for their current book, The Kite Runner.

We're going to use blogger because it is what I'm most familiar with. I tried to encourage her to use a ning, but she really seemed more comfortable with blogger. That being the case, I didn't want to scare her off by pushing ning. So, we're going with blogger. That is probably easier all around since I'm more familiar with it. It also tells me I ought to set up a ning so teachers see that as a viable option in the future.

On Wednesday we'll be in the computer lab. I'm going to walk her kids through setting up a google account (most probably don't have one). The current plan is to have an initial start up question already on the blog so that the kids can start commenting right away.

The project has a fairly simple structure. She will maintain four blogs (one for each class). That is logistically easier for her to keep track of since the students will have a requirement for commenting at least x number of times per post. We also talked about having her participate in the discussions in the comments, and she seemed to like the idea. After all, a teacher doesn't start a conversation in class and then leave.

I asked her if the kids tend to interact with each othe in class discussions. They don't. She told me it is mostly her asking a question and then one student responding, and no one responding to that student. I'm hoping this project will create more dynamic discussions. I predict that at first, students will be annoyed with the posting requirements and try to get all two or three out of the way at the same time. But, since this will be an on-going assignment throughout the book, I'm hoping that the conversations will have a bit more back and forth as the book progresses. That will be most likely to happen with more engaging questions.

We haven't talked about assessing the project yet. I'm a fan of rubistar, though, and will most likely suggest that.

One of the other important parts of the project will be online citizenship. I don't think I'll use those words. I'll just point out to students that all school rules about language, conduct, bullying, etc., apply online. And, with the teacher involved in the discussion, she will most likely be able to redirect if things get too off topic.

PLN

My current goal is to get my teachers--or at least some of them--involved in a PLN.

I would like to see my teachers using Twitter and/or Shout'em. Both are valuable communication and networking programs with different advantages. I'm not sure how many of my teachers would be willing to juggle two networks at the moment. And, if each teacher was only willing to use one, I'm not sure which would be the better choice.

I am personally a fan of Twitter because I find it to be a dynamic PLN. I have for some time been following blogs of other educational professionals and finding a plethora of information, resources, and ideas. However, I find that I'm more likely to contribute via Twitter. I'm more likely to post to my micro blog than comment on someone else's blog. Its simple and, I think, non threatening, even for the least tech savy. It's very user-friendly.

Another tool I have recently come across shout'em.com. It is similar to twitter in form and function, but it is a micro blog where an administrator (in this case me) can set up a private community. This tool would be useful in different ways than twitter. For one thing, it would be private, which might be more encouraging to some of the teachers. However, it would lack access to the huge pool of teachers on twitter.

On Twitter, teachers would likely find and talk with others who teach similar classes to create and share ideas. They would be able to find resources and share what they know. On Shout'em, they would be in a community with other teachers within the school that they know and see on a daily basis. By being able to see and read all of the communication--from science, social studies, math, and English teachers--they could start conversations, that might take place online or offline. By creating a community in which all of the teachers could communicate in a forum, as frequently or infrequently as they want, teachers who are eager to create 21st Century classrooms could inspire and learn from one another, and teachers who are slower to move forward could sit back, read what others are doing, and come into it at their own pace.

I would like to see the teachers use both, but I know that for some (perhaps many) that might seem too overwhelming. I would like to present both as options for all, and help anyone interested set up one or both.