WEBSITE AND CLASSROOM BLOG CREATION TOOLS

Name: Torre Mortimer

Directions: Using the template below, describe how students could use a blog, wiki, or other website-
creation tool to learn required learning standards in your content area: For an A grade provide an idea that
reaches a Level of Technology Implementation of 4 or above. Remember higher levels (4-6) require that
students assume adult/professional roles; engage in higher-order thinking; and use technology
create/publish original content for their classmates and/or others beyond their school/classroom. The
learning activities and products should be engaging and meaningful to the students and to others who will
view/use/benefit from students work. Review your handouts on Engaged Learning, Authenticity, and LoTi.
Grade Level: 7TH Grade
Content Area: Mathematics
Technology Used (check all that apply):
Blog Wiki Other Website Creation Tool (list): Blogspot.com
Content Area/Grade/Standards/Topics Addressed: 7TH Grade Mathematics class projects and teacher
updates
Brief Description of Learning Experience: What learning standards will be addressed? What will
students and teachers do? What products will students create? How will the project be introduced? How
long will it take to complete? What audience will use/care about the product(s) students are creating? How
broad is this audience? (Overview should be a minimum of 2 paragraphs).
The students will create an original blog for their yearly math class. As new concepts are taught in class,
students will add the information gained to their blog. Extension thoughts and concepts will be expanded on
each blog entry. This will allow for easy review from the teacher while allowing access to the students
blog by their family figures.
The blog created will serve as an interactive mathematics notebook for the students with access given to the
parents and the teacher. This will eliminate some of the privacy issues for the students. At the completion of
the students blogs, the teacher can create a collaborative blog for all the students in the class, using specific
information from each students personal blog. The collaborative blog can be easily accessible to anyone to
serve as a visual, technology based, study blog for the end of the year.
Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):
See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating

Student Engagement/Level of Technology Implementation (LoTi): What LoTi would this lesson be and
Why?
Students will be creating their own personal blog for their mathematic concepts throughout the course. The
creation of an original technology based product partnered with applying mathematical concepts in their
own words allows students to work around a level 5 LoTi level. The students will be responsible for
updating their blogs with new concepts as they are taught. This creates a routine use of technology in the
classroom.
Importance of technology: Why is using a website-creation tool critical to the project? Could the project
be completed without this technology? What would be lost without using it? What other types of
technology, if any, are going to be used in the learning experience?
The use of a blog allows the students to create a personal connection to their product by including extension
thoughts and about me sections. The commenting feature will allow the teacher to respond to the students
work efficiently while allowing access for the parents too. Privacy is key for the students when creating
their personal blog, so no identifying characteristics of the students will be made to the public. Students
could easily complete this task in class with a pen and paper, but the response efficiency would decline.
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 WEBSITE AND CLASSROOM BLOG CREATION TOOLS
This would also not allow access for parents who want to view their students work if it is crumbled up into
their backpack.

Inspiration (optional): If you used existing example as a model for your project (whether in part or
whole), include the URL(s) so we can visit. Explain what concepts you borrowed from others.
This blog page was my motivation for the assignment because it is a real connection to the teacher in the
classroom. It eliminates the idea that all teachers live in their classroom and do not have lives of their own.
By allowing students and parents to get to know their teacher, there is a bond and understanding created.
http://7thgrademathteacherextraordinaire.blogspot.com/

Internet Safety and Student Privacy: Briefly discuss some possible issues surrounding Internet safety and
student privacy that could arise while implementing this learning experience and explain how you would
(1) minimize risks to students/yourself; (2) alleviate any fears by parents/administrators, and (3) follow
common Internet Safety/Acceptable Use Policies.
Each students individual blog will be created with their parents to alleviate any conflict from the parents.
The students will be provided a list of identifying features that are not to be included in their blog. The
blog engine used will be applicable for the age group of the classroom and allow students to meet all of the
requirements for internet safety.
Describe your personal learning goal for this activity. What are you trying that you have not tried
before? What do you hope to learn from this activity? How do you hope it will help students learn?
I have never created a project or assignment thats duration lasts the whole semester or year. While this
may be difficult in the beginning because the students will not be familiar with the routine, I believe over
time it will become a beneficial way to expand learning in the classroom while holding the students
accountable for their instruction and notes.
Other comments about your proposed activity: Not Applicable