Sunday, March 7, 2010

How to Post

Here is what you need to do to post on our class blog:
  • Form a group of four/five and designate a person to post your group work on our blog. This person should send me an email with the names of the group members. Soon after I receive this information, I will reply with an invitation to post on the blog. Only the designated person will be able to post so she/he will be the only one receiving the invitation. If this person does not have a Google account, the invitation message will prompt him/her to create one.

  • The group should select a minimum of 4/5 resources (depends on the number of group members) to evaluate. Spring 2010 students will focus on literacy acquisition issues and/ or literacy activities. Spring 2011 students will select resources for making content accessible for second language learners. There should be at least one resource for each group member. The resources should have a common focus clearly stated in the post title.

  • The body of the post should have a brief introduction to the resources, and then discuss each resource separately. The resource should appear with its given name and an embedded link to the website (so that people can just click on the link to access the website). To embed a link, paint the name of the resource, select the chain at the top, and then copy/paste the url of the website in the box that appears on the screen. A description and evaluation of the resource should follow. That is, provide evidence of critical thinking: e.g., reflect on the strengths and limitations of the resources you listed, explain how you would use the resources in class or for homework assignments, comment on their applicability and usefulness for multiliteracy classrooms, explain how they illustrate (or not) principles of good teaching and/or effective (or not) methodological practices. Feel free to add other types of comments/reflections on your posts, ask questions, voice concerns, etc.

Accountability: Together decide on the resources, title, and intro. Each member should evaluate at least one resource. After the evaluation, write in brackets the person who evaluated the resource like this "(evaluated by Veronica)"

NOTE: Please do not select resources that have been discussed in other posts.


Due Dates for Spring 2010 students:
  • Monday 3/22
  • Monday 4/5
  • Monday 4/19
Due Dates for Spring 2011 students:
  • Friday 4/15
  • Friday 4/29

Post comments to posts as you wish. Please refrain from writing things like "good job." If you are writing a comment, then it should be to expand, clarify, argue, exemplify, provide more information or more resources. You need to create a Google account to post comments.

Assessment
  • Group points:
-- No points if group work is not posted.
--1 point for timelines. However, if the post is not posted within the week of the deadline, then it will receive no points.
--2 point max. for completeness: all resources posted, all links present, all resources evaluated.
  • Individual points:
-- 1 point max. for resource selection (not discussed in other posts; relevant to our course contents and the blog focus)
-- 2 point max. for evaluation. Make sure you say who evaluates what.


Enjoy the exciting world of blogging!!