Using blogs and wikis to connect Beyond the Classroom.
When schools I am working in identify the Beyond the Classroom dimension, in the eLPF, as one they need to focus on, the question keeps coming up around how we can engage parents and the wider community in the children's learning.
One of my favourite and most successful ways is to use a blog (or wiki) to give parents and the wider community a window into the learning in the classroom and a voice to comment on learning and encourage the students.
However blogs (wikis) are no magic formula, you cannot set one up and just expect it to work, it's important you educate the parents around how they can become involved and keep the blog fresh and the children actively involved in order to keep the parents coming back for more.
Recently Allanh King bookmarked this great guide to involving parents in your blog (thanks Allanah) and it got me thinking about how much we presume parents know about blogging (wiki-ing) and how many teachers become disillusioned with their blogs because the parents and wider community fail to engage.
SO here are a few of my beginning of the year suggestions on how to get your parents engaged in your blog and I hope others of you bloggers (wiki-ists) out there will contribute your ideas and suggestions too.
1. Send a letter home at the beginning of the year introducing the blog and explaining the basics.
2. Provide opportunities before and after school for parents to access the blog via the classroom. The children can show their parents around and be the experts.
3. Teach your parents how to comment and subscribe to updates. Either by handout or in a mini after school workshop.
4. Put prompts to posts on the blog in your class newsletter, homework books, school newsletter...
5. Make a big fuss when parents do engage in the blog, comment or just visit. : )
Replies
- Jane Armstrong Bos (View all users posts) 04 Mar 2013 9:02am ()
In the video clip, Using e-portfolios to record the learning process, Russell Street School teacher, Jacqui Innes, describes the process and benefits of planning explicitly for what students will share on their blogs which form the basis for their e-portfolios.
Students are encouraged to relate their posts and comments to the learning intention and success criteria, which are known from the outset. This means when they make their blog post self assessment and peer assessment can come through.
She has found using Google reader has been a good visual way for students to be more accountable for their comments.
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