Korean Job Discussion Forums

[acornrevolution]

I was wondering if any of you have classroom blogs? I was thinking of creating one for my afterschool class next semester. If you have one, what types of content did you have? How did you set it up? What assignments were there? The response from students?

I'm thinking of a classroom blog as a way for students to interact with English outside the classroom.

[FMPJ]

I post all assignments and readings as well as additional/optional/recommended work. All files, handouts, etc. are posted as well, as .pdf or .doc files.

I also use it to make general announcements to students.

My students like it and make good use of anonymous commenting and feedback to help me improve my class and let me know how things are working.

It's a small but important part of the way I do things.

[acornrevolution]

What grades do you teach? I teach middle school.

[ddeubel]

I think what you want to do is right on. Even if only a small number participate, you are opening things up for them.

I loved Pownce but unfortunately its plug was pulled recently. You might look at Vox as an alternative (those guys went to work there). However, you really probably need an ad free environment even though Korea isn't under any COPPA tyranny.

You might just set up a class Twitter account and feed. IM stuff and not so substantial but students can get into it.

I'd suggest using Ning. Grades 7-12 can request Ning to removed the ads for school/educational networks. You can also then make it private so you are keeping it safe. You just have to email a request to ning. http://education.ning.com/page/page/show?id=1027485:Page:45750

There are quite a few classrooms that use our EFL Classroom 2.0 for blogging. They make a "Classroom" group and keep it private. The blogs don't appear to the rest of our community (but I can see what's happening ..) but still they get all the functionality and most importantly, students get the content that is there.

Hope this helps some..here is an example from one of our members...
http://jeongeui.ning.com/

Cheers,

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[FMPJ]