Introductory Concepts |
Week ONe Assignment: Due Next Week Before Class
We've gone over quite a bit this week. To review: we've introduced ourselves, explored digital learning, looked at academic writing, and finished with classroom blogging. Your assignment this week will be to set up your own blog and begin reading.
Below are listed a couple of different forms of instructions that will guide you through the process, but remember that your classmates are also very helpful resources when you have trouble. You must first register with your WOU gmail address, as you will use the gmail address when registering in other websites, setting up your blog, and uploading assignments into GoogleDocs. Select the one that you feel most comfortable with and start creating!
First- Create Your Blog
1. Go to www.wordpress.com to create a blog.
2. Using your gmail account, type in your email address and password and sign in.
3. Enter your name for the display name and click continue.
4. Choose a title and address for your blog (check availability) and click continue (write down your blog’s URL address for later reference)
5. Choose a template and click continue.
6. Once your blog has been created, click and start blogging. You will record all of your coursework here.
If you need, here is a quick Youtube tutorial showing you how to create a blog at Wordpress. If you are ever stuck on future technology assignments, try to problem solve by searching for the most recent online tutorials first. Wordpress also has an active help forum for you. Finally, WOU offers an excellent Technology Resource Center (TRC) located on the first floor of Hamersly Library. This is an excellent place to go for technology help.
Second- Personalize your Professional Blog
A good blog will contain:
Below are listed a couple of different forms of instructions that will guide you through the process, but remember that your classmates are also very helpful resources when you have trouble. You must first register with your WOU gmail address, as you will use the gmail address when registering in other websites, setting up your blog, and uploading assignments into GoogleDocs. Select the one that you feel most comfortable with and start creating!
First- Create Your Blog
1. Go to www.wordpress.com to create a blog.
2. Using your gmail account, type in your email address and password and sign in.
3. Enter your name for the display name and click continue.
4. Choose a title and address for your blog (check availability) and click continue (write down your blog’s URL address for later reference)
5. Choose a template and click continue.
6. Once your blog has been created, click and start blogging. You will record all of your coursework here.
If you need, here is a quick Youtube tutorial showing you how to create a blog at Wordpress. If you are ever stuck on future technology assignments, try to problem solve by searching for the most recent online tutorials first. Wordpress also has an active help forum for you. Finally, WOU offers an excellent Technology Resource Center (TRC) located on the first floor of Hamersly Library. This is an excellent place to go for technology help.
Second- Personalize your Professional Blog
A good blog will contain:
- information about the author (it will help to have a picture)
- links to related articles, resources, and other websites (you should practice this- use the resources on this website as a place to start. You will link to many throughout the course).
- connections to other bloggers out there (these will be your classmates blogs plus others you'll add throughout the term. You'll read and post to their blogs...also, try to find a classroom blog in your specialty area or grade level and link to that)
- a nice graphic balance (think about artistic design here- what is efficient, yet pleasing to the eye?)
Third- Turn in your Blog URL
1. Send the URL of your blog to me at [email protected] before class time next week. For example, my blog URL is www.wenzelm.wordpress.com
1. Send the URL of your blog to me at [email protected] before class time next week. For example, my blog URL is www.wenzelm.wordpress.com
Fourth- Create your First Posting to Get Ready for Next Week
1. Begin by looking at your syllabus calendar for next week and beyond.. What topics and essential questions are you responsible for? Planning ahead, what can you be working on?
2. Complete the readings for next week- there are three articles by with differing opinions on technology in the classroom. As you read, consider the following:
Prensky, M. (2008). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership. 6(65), 40-45.
Hertz, M. (2011). Sometimes the right technology is a a pencil. Edutopia.org. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/technology-integration-classroom-mary-beth-hertz
Cassidy, C. (2013, January 5). The use and abuse of technology in the classroom. [Web log post] Retrieved from http://kathycassidy.com/2013/01/05/the-use-and-abuse-of-technology-in-the-classroom/
3. Compose your first blog posting based on your readings. Title it "Introductory Concepts." Follow the academic argument template we practiced in your posting and provide at least two hyperlinks to supporting evidence:
In recent discussions of _____, a controversial issue has been whether______. On the one hand, some argue that _____. From this perspective, ______. On the other hand, however, others argue that _____. According to this view, ______. In sum then, the issue is whether ______ or _________.
My own view is that ______. Though I concede that ______, I still maintain that _______. For example, _______. Although some might object that ______, I would reply that ______. The issue is important because_______.
4. Review the page on Educational Blogging. Check out the different types of educational blogs and reasons why teachers & students might use blogging as a platform in their classrooms.
1. Begin by looking at your syllabus calendar for next week and beyond.. What topics and essential questions are you responsible for? Planning ahead, what can you be working on?
2. Complete the readings for next week- there are three articles by with differing opinions on technology in the classroom. As you read, consider the following:
- Think about common themes that connect the articles. What arguments do the authors make?
- How do the authors support their opinions? What evidence do they provide?
- What are your feelings about the articles? How would you present evidence that supports your own opinion?
Prensky, M. (2008). Turning on the lights. Educational Leadership. 6(65), 40-45.
Hertz, M. (2011). Sometimes the right technology is a a pencil. Edutopia.org. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/technology-integration-classroom-mary-beth-hertz
Cassidy, C. (2013, January 5). The use and abuse of technology in the classroom. [Web log post] Retrieved from http://kathycassidy.com/2013/01/05/the-use-and-abuse-of-technology-in-the-classroom/
3. Compose your first blog posting based on your readings. Title it "Introductory Concepts." Follow the academic argument template we practiced in your posting and provide at least two hyperlinks to supporting evidence:
In recent discussions of _____, a controversial issue has been whether______. On the one hand, some argue that _____. From this perspective, ______. On the other hand, however, others argue that _____. According to this view, ______. In sum then, the issue is whether ______ or _________.
My own view is that ______. Though I concede that ______, I still maintain that _______. For example, _______. Although some might object that ______, I would reply that ______. The issue is important because_______.
4. Review the page on Educational Blogging. Check out the different types of educational blogs and reasons why teachers & students might use blogging as a platform in their classrooms.