Module 3News Engine, Blogs, Wikis, and RSS feedsInstructional Technology

SharpSchool Module 3 AgendaIntroduction

Connections Map 21st Century Skills

Using the news engine on your website.

Create a blog page

Adding a RSS feed to your webpage

News EngineKeeps students and parents informed of what is going on in your classroom.Assignments , special classroom events, etc.Places a portal from your announcement page to your home page.

Classroom ActivityAdd a news event to your website

Blogs vs. WikisBlog vs. Wiki Debate Video

WIKIBLOGDefinitions:A collaborative website which can be directly edited by anyone with access to it.A personal or corporate website in the form of an online journal, with new entries appearing in the sequence as they are written.Writers:Many authors such as teachers, students, parents, administration.Typically one person, such as a teacher, administrator. Others can comment, but not editContent:Grows rapidly.Grows slowly, one post at a time.Constantly change and continuously updated. Discussions can take place on pages of a discussion forum.Discussions take place in the comments of a post, typically approved by blogger.

BlogsA blog (a contraction of the term weblog) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs.Wikipedia.com

BlogsAn informative way of communicating with the world.

An Online Journal where you share your thoughts, opinions and ideas on a topic.A blog can be used for classroom topics, projects, debates, and discussions as a tool to enhance your classroom online.

Blog examples:http://carver.tulsaschools.org/blog/One.aspx?portalId=4092570 http://whitney.tulsaschools.org/blog/One.aspx?portalId=2840077 Art Teacher:http://zarrow.tulsaschools.org/blog/One.aspx?portalId=4977934Its all in how you promote and integrate your blogdetermines participation. Clear expectations!

Why Use Your Blog WITHIN SharpSchool as Opposed to Blogger, etc.?More controlMore secureBlog available only to those you allowMore control over comments

DiscussTurn to your neighbor and share how you plan to use blogs on your website.

Class ActivityAdd a blog page to your class website

Wikis "Wiki" is a Hawaiian word for "fast"

A webpage where anyone can edit, create, or change the information on it

Wikipedia is a Wiki website

Wiki Exampleshttp://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/

http://itcboisestate.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/10-best-practices-for-using-wikis-in-education/

Wiki on SharpSchoolComing soon! They are available but you have to use HTML coding. Will soon be available using the basic editor.

RSS feedsReally Simple SyndicationA subscription to the latest information from different placesYou receive them all at once: they come to you!

RSS feeds

RSS feeds

RSS Feeds and SharpSchoolAdding an RSS feed to your class website can give parents and students constant updates from websites that can help them be successful in your classroom.

Classroom ActivityAdding a RSS feed to your site:

Nedra Weinreich of the SpareChange Blog