Pew Internet Report on Social Media and Young Adults in Feb 2010 said “73% of wired American teens now use social networking websites, a significant increase from previous surveys. Just over half of online teens (55%) used social networking sites in November of 2007 and 65% did so in Feb. of 2008.” 47% of online adults use social networking sites. Lenhart, Amanda, Kristen Purcell, Aaron Smith, and Kathryn Zickuhr. "Overview | Pew Internet & American Life Project ." Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project . N.p., 3 Feb. 2010. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. <http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults/Summary-of-Findings.aspx>.

Students are communicating socially online in a variety of places. As TLs we the LIT framework calls us to: LIT Framework: Teach students to be critical consumers and producers of information Teach students and staff to use emerging learning technologies for school and lifelong learning Teach students to be safe, ethical and responsible digital citizens http://wlma.org/Resources/Documents/LIT_Program_Framework.pdf How do we prepare them to be safe, ethical digital citizens when most of these sites are filtered?

Many options for blogs and wikis are available. How many have commented on someone else’s blog or wiki? How many have your own blog or wiki? How many of you have used a blog or wiki with students? Blogs and Wikis allow a place to publish content, and collaborate, discuss ease of uploading sharing, putting content online-ties to other systems (embed work). Usable- Easy to use, no more Dreamweaver or HTML necessary. Most blogs and wikis have built in restrictions and security to help educators facilitate online student discussions and a “safer” place to publish content. Likely to have to get the url to your blog or wiki unblocked by your IT dept.

We’re going to take a look at some examples of wikis and blogs. Library Example without Student Contributions – High School Layout Navigation, page edit, discussion, History, embeddable web content. Center is actually an embedded Glogster with links. Resource page for students and staff.

Students create content and comments- 6th Grade – different from previous as this is student-created content. Layout Navigation (center and right sidebar) Page Edit (not visible unless login) Commenting (bottom of page) Recent Activity/History (lower right) Wiki Rules Recent activity Vs. History shows a record of all changes (can even revert back to previous version of page if needed) Teacher process was to build students up to collaboration. Started with having students login and comment on current events. Then kids created their own content individually in an Egypt Research Project Heroes of Modern Africas students from different periods collaborated on the content (can’t edit page at same time). Show live version (HMA with commenting from students collaborating on same page (group formed from students from different periods as only one person can edit at a time)

Example: Teacher is posting content, students are commenting – Elem. As head into looking at blogs, you’ll see a variety of themes and layouts, really adaptable and in general much prettier than wikis. Beware the “Next Blog” – CIPA, don’t know where it is going to go.- many districts/schools aren’t keen on unblocking Blogger, however you can hide that toolbar. Video- How to Comment- Show commenting parameters/guidelines on site Commenting should be set to be moderated. If students don’t have emails, should set to not require an email address. (double-check to make sure moderation is turned on) Many people already have Google accounts so using Blogger is a natural transition since you don’t have to have a new account or remember another password.

Student created content, TL posting/publishing – Middle School Edublogs (based on open source Wordpress but they host the blog for you.) Just took off advertising on their free blogs. Essentially have pages, posts are most recent at top, this theme has 2 sidebars ( for text and embeddable content (“WP Widgets”) Student’s are creating the content, but it is published/posted by the librarian, uses form to collect information (Submit a Book Review). Students don’t have accounts, but in Edublogs are able to set up student accounts. Edublogs (wordpress) does allow user accounts that are “contributors” so can login and create post, but post isn’t published until an admin approves it. Per student gets a little tedious but some make “group” accounts.

Class Blog with Individual Student Blogs where Students are Publishing- Elementary Student blogs are easy to set up with a Wordpress install or using a paid Edublogs (WP) account – no email required Can set it so posts are moderated and aren’t visible until approved. Blogging Rules Visible Click to go to Emily’s blog Other Examples:

Protecting Students What’s going to let my IT dept unblock a page? How are parents going to support this endeavor? There are a few major things to become knowledgeable about if you think you will have any trouble convincing your IT dept to unblock your site. The more knowledgeable you in all of the following areas and have a plan, the more likely you can convince others that you have student safety and FERPA and CIPA in the front of your mind. Many IT depts may already have blog and wiki sites that they prefer, you just have to ask.

I am not an expert. FERPA/District Guidelines – what is the policy for release of student information? It may be an opt-out policy, even so, does web publishing fall under that umbrella?, Acceptable Use Policy may also have some expectations and include consequences. Often, publishing video requires additional parent permission regardless of other release forms. May need to create own permission form if district doesn’t cover and it is best to run it by the legal dept.

Communication- Even if allowed to publish online under district guidelines, inform parents of what you want to do and what will be published. Video of students may require a whole separate permission form. Talk to your administration also, keep them in the loop. Get them on board.

Digital Citizenship -Student Expectations/Guidelines – Communicate with students/families about digital citizenship and whether they are commenting, discussing or publishing work online. Many even have students sign a statement or form that states the expectations. Talk with administration up front about dealing with consequences of broken expectations. Check the district’s AUP, may apply to some extent. Also a place to remember to discuss with students about citing others’ work, plagiarism and even Creative Commons.

Site Configuration – using the tools settings to protect students, comment/post moderation, anon. student accounts, History. Know the tool that you are using and how the settings can be used to protect students and YOU.

Blogs -Really a publishing tool – most recent is first - more about readibility and presentation, may have version tracking, but not as sophisticated as wikis.  Usually have themes and look pretty. Easy to comment, contains moderation for comments and user posting. Better for discussions Can be set to be completely private, and require a password to view. Probably better if planning on using mobile devices to publish. -Wordpress.org provides open source (free) blogging software, can install on own server. Wordpress.com, edublogs, and kidblog.org all use some version or rendering of the free wordpress, but you don’t have to host it yourself. Edublogs and Kidblog are easiest for creating student accounts, kidblog is very stripped down wordpress, not as many themes, but each student has private blog requiring a login. Edublogs has a free and various paid versions, only paid will allow student blogs. Wordpress.com requires and email address and a wordpress account to add users. -Blogger requires a Google Account to open, so student accounts aren’t very accessible. Can create multiple blogs under one account name/password, then don’t know who is posting what. Contains a menu that has a “Next Blog” feature that many IT dept don’t like b/c of CIPA, can be turned off. Easy to use. Wikis -great collaboration tool although can’t collaborate simultaneously. Looks like a productivity tool, takes some work to make it “pretty”- -version trackingWikis usually have automatic publishing, but all changes and who made them are recorded in the Recent History or History, has version tracking that records everything.. -Have consequences in place if students do ignore expectations. -Easily created bulk student accounts can be made generic or unidentifiable to protect student identity. Wikis can be set to require a password before viewing. Wikispaces -commenting (Discussion tab) is difficult to find and not as viewable -used by many so if collaborating with other TLs many probably already have an account -History is easy to find -easily create student accounts without emails PBWorks -Commenting feature at bottom of each page, really visible, easy for students to comment on content -simple visual toolbar -easily create student accounts without emails

So, what Next? Examine, Experiment, Execute Examine Take a look at the Site Comparison (on the wiki) and the examples. Browse More Resources (on the wiki) for more ideas and explanations. Read and view other blogs and wikis. Experiment Decide what you want to do, and which tool may be best, but start small. Familiarize yourself by creating a blog or wiki for you or with a group of TLs or teachers. Start publishing content to learn the tool and allow commenting as a next step, just configure them for moderation in the settings. Execute Once you decide to jump in completely with students, have a plan for district guidelines, communication, digital citizenship, and site configuration (know the tool). Make sure your site is unblocked.

What Next? Examine Take a look at the Site Comparison (on the wiki) and the examples. Browse More Resources (on the wiki) for more ideas and explanations. Read and view other blogs and wikis. Experiment Decide what you want to do, and which tool may be best, but start small. Familiarize yourself by creating a blog or wiki for you or with a group of TLs or teachers. Start publishing content to learn the tool and allow commenting as a next step, just configure them for moderation in the settings. Execute Once you decide to jump in completely with students, have a plan for district guidelines, communication, digital citizenship, and site configuration (know the tool). Make sure your site is unblocked.

Have fun! What Next? Examine Take a look at the Site Comparison (on the wiki) and the examples. Browse More Resources (on the wiki) for more ideas and explanations. Read and view other blogs and wikis. Experiment Decide what you want to do, and which tool may be best, but start small. Familiarize yourself by creating a blog or wiki for you or with a group of TLs or teachers. Start publishing content to learn the tool and allow commenting as a next step, just configure them for moderation in the settings. Execute Once you decide to jump in completely with students, have a plan for district guidelines, communication, digital citizenship, and site configuration (know the tool). Make sure your site is unblocked.

73% CC 2.0 UTC Library http://www.flickr.com/photos/luptonlibrary/5063379244/sizes/m/in/photostream/ Lenhart, Amanda, Kristen Purcell, Aaron Smith, and Kathryn Zickuhr. "Overview | Pew Internet & American Life Project ." Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project . N.p., 3 Feb. 2010. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. <http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults/Summary-of-Findings.aspx>.

CC 2.0 Matthew Burpee http://www.flickr.com/photos/mburpee/4624692163/

Publish Collaborate Discuss Privacy Settings Account Parameters Comment Moderation Revision History Usable Blogs and Wikis

https://springfieldlibrary.wikispaces.com Joyce Valenza’s Library Wiki

http://eck208.pbworks.com Eric Miller’s Class Wiki

http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/ Linda Yollis’ Class Blog

http://blogs.seattleschools.org/madisonlib/ Stacia Bell’s Library Blog

http://hccweb2.org/3s2010/ Mitchell Squires’ Class Blog

Protecting Students Online CC 2.0 Krossbow http://www.flickr.com/photos/krossbow/3157713080/ Work Pictures Videos Discussions

CC 2.0 Kate Ter Har http://www.flickr.com/photos/katerha/4526272937/ FERPA/District/AUP

CC 2.0 Gerard Evastin http://www.flickr.com/photos/26652703@N02/2502519971/ Communication

CC 2.0 Woodleywonderworks http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/5073550323/ Digital Citizenship

CC 2.0 Ralphbijker http://www.flickr.com/photos/17258892@N05/2588347668/ Site Configuration

Blog Wiki? OR

Examine CC 2.0 m4tik http://www.flickr.com/photos/m4tik/47714548/

Experiment CC 2.0 Peter Megyeri http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpeterke/3546334679/

Execute CC 2.0 Marcin Wichary http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/3300657149