This session from the 2011 FMEA Conferences provided many different techniques by which teachers can use blogging (and microblogging) to enhance both their educational objectives and administrative tasks. It included a hands-on tutorial for setting up and using a blog and a Twitter account, as well as resources for effective use of both.

1. Music Teacher 2.0 Blogging Your Way to a Better Classroom

2. Before We Begin… Session Materials: http://musicedmajor.net/FMEA10/blogging Handouts: QR Code Audio Recording-available afterwards On Twitter? Use #mt20 for discussion! Not on Twitter yet? Just text to “40404” Questions? Ask away!

3. Before We Begin…

4. Before We Begin… Session Materials: http://musicedmajor.net/FMEA10/blogging Handouts: QR Code Audio Recording-available afterwards On Twitter? Use #mt20 for discussion! Not on Twitter yet? Just text to “40404” Questions? Ask away!

5. What IS Blogging, Anyway? blog we weblog

6. What IS Blogging, Anyway? Blog – A journal written online and accessible to users of the internet Blog – An online, regularly updated journal or newsletter that is readily accessible to the general public by virtue of being posted on a website Blog - A website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order

7. What IS Blogging, Anyway? A blog is a tool for content creation and sharing. In other words, a blog is… A Teaching Tool! Blogging can very easily help you create a better music classroom.

8. A “Better Music Classroom” Characteristics of a good music classroom: Well-prepared teacher Degrees – Compare Years Professional Development Smoothly-managed program Paperwork Collecting/Spreading of Information Engaged Students! Interested in the material Excited to learn

9. Well-Prepared Teacher Professional Development As We Know It: Journals/Periodicals In-Service Days Conferences What type of effect do these create? Where does that effect come from? How do we replicate this effect?

10. Blogging for Professional Development Writing a Blog Share your thoughts/ideas Ask questions – answers via comments Reading Blogs Read others’ thoughts/ideas Help with others’ questions Blogging is Professional Development! So… How the heck do we do it??

12. WordPress.com

20. RSS/Syndication What is it?? RSS Syndication brings the information to you RSS Feeds – List of updates Feed Readers—Google Reader, Bloglines

21. Google Reader

22. Syndication Examples Blog Syndication Integrated in Blog Platform! FeedBurner – Advanced Features Analytics Email Subscription Adsense Podcast Syndication Blog Integration—Plugins iTunes Integration!

23. RSS/Syndication Resources OPML – File containing multiple RSS Feeds Import into RSS Reader Music Education OPML Project Web-based RSS Aggregation MusicEdNews.com Professional Development in a Box!

24. Smoothly Managed Program How much time do you spend being an administrator? FACTS Paperwork takes time Some paperwork can be reduced using blogging This doesn’t apply to everything! Blogging can help us distribute information to students and teachers Remember RSS?

25. Let’s Compare… Trip Itinerary Paper Copy Via Classroom Blog Get parent emails at beginning of year Subscribe them to email RSS Updates Type up itinerary online on blog Click “Publish” 80 emails go out to all the Moms/Dads with your itinerary Type up itinerary in Word Print itinerary Make 80 copies Distribute in class Find 57 on floor after orchestra Of the other 23, only half make it into Mom/Dad’s hands Make 57 copies the next day Find 32 on the floor

26. Advantages to Using a Blog Environmentally friendly – less copies! 100% Guarantee that parents receive the information Keeps your classroom clean!

40. Engaged Students (MORE) FACTS: Students like being knowledgeable Modern Students: Typing > Writing Students probably know more about technology than you… And That’s OKAY!

41. How Do We Harness This? Weekly Reflection Blog General Music – What I learned this week Performing Ensembles – Rehearsal reflection Blog Comments Students comment on each others’ posts Weekly Listening – Post recording, students comment

42. FAMS Music Blog: Listening Lesson FAMS Music Blog: The Magic Flute

43. Twitter: Micro-Blogging Twitter Basics 140-character “Tweets” to followers Don’t need to accept a new follower Replies, Retweets (FWD) Twitter is NOT about telling people what you ate for breakfast! Twitter IS a blogging platform Twitter IS a tool for content creation and sharing. Twitter IS an incredible medium for professional development

44. Hashtags on Twitter In Twitter lingo… Hashtag = Keyword Hashtags let you search for specific topics Some examples: #followfriday #musiced #mpln #edchat

45. #MusEdChat on Twitter The Problems: Teachers are Secluded Not many music teachers at each school This makes Professional Development hard! The Solution: #MusEdChat Weekly Twitter Chat on Music Education

46. #MusEdChat Basics Homepage: http://musicedmajor.net/musedchat Includes: Topic Submission Form Topic Poll Chat Transcripts Chat Recaps

47. #MusEdChat: The Chat Monday Nights, 8pm Eastern Time: Sign on Twitter (or use an app!) Search for “#musedchat” Read the Tweets Respond using #musedchathashtag Reply Retweet Ask Questions!

48. Wrap-Up

49. Questions? For more information: http://musicedmajor.net Twitter: @Zweibz7, @MusicEdMajor Email: andy@andyzweibel.com Don’t forget! Materials/Audio available at: http://musicedmajor.net/FMEA10/blogging