13151s

13151s

Student Presentation (20 minutes)

Mia Beatty, Universit of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, mbeatty@hawaii.edu
 * Integrating Google Blogs into the K-6 Language Arts Classroom To Promote Interactive Learning Communities **

Educators must integrate technology into their curriculum with the introduction of State Common Core Standards nationwide in grades K-12. The new standard emphasizes the use of technology including the Internet to produce writing products. Bringing literacies into a classroom is not an easy task for a teacher, especially when two thirds of teachers feel underprepared to use technology in the classroom (Barone & Wright, 2008). This online instructional module was designed to introduce K-6 educators to using social media, specifically Google Blogs (Blogger) in the classroom to promote interactive learning communities. This module examined the use of Google Blogs because of its enormous user base, ease of use, free access, and privacy features. Graduate students and educators voluntarily participated in the web-based module by taking pre and post assessments, and attitudinal surveys. The module engaged participants using videos, images, and a narrative tutorial video. The results show that after the module participants feel comfortable integrating an online tool such as Google Blogs into their classroom to promote interactive learning communities. Most found the demonstration video to be helpful in their learning and

Novice blogging elementary web2.0 uhmanoa