Name: Michael Seymour

Grade Level: 9th Grade

Content Area: Biology

LESSON IDEA: WEBSITE-CREATION TOOLS

Technology Used (check all that apply): Blog Wiki Other Website Creation Tool (list):
Edublogs
Content Area/Grade/Standards/Topics Addressed:
This tool addresses the learning standards of all content areas.
Brief Description of Learning Experience:
The power of the classroom blog lies within the creativity of the designer. The blog supports learning
beyond the walls of the classroom. Parents and students remain informed on a 24/7 basis. As a teacher, I
will provide up-to-date information, extend the learning activities and offer added support for all students.
The flipped classroom component of the blog extends the classroom to an anywhere, anytime learning
environment. Students focus on new information, collaborate on projects or review material covered during
the school day. Information and support are at the touch of a keystroke.
Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):
See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
X Remembering X Understanding X Applying X Analyzing X Evaluating __ Creating
Student Engagement:
As students access the classroom blog, they will discover a wide-range of support features within the
classroom blog. Information is provided in order to promote the home-school communication. Students and
their parents can quickly locate relevant information to support the learning activities and classroom
requirements established throughout the span of the course. The activities created for the flipped classroom
environment, the identified websites to enhance learning, and the overall components within the blog
promote collaboration and student-direct activities all supporting the various indicators of engagement.
Level of Technology Implementation (LoTi):
The blog covers a wide-variety of LoTi levels. The website promotes communication between home
and school. Although this component of the blog remains at a low LoTi level, the value to parents and
students is extremely high. As a flipped classroom component, the blog moves to a higher level within the
LoTi framework. Students access project information and work collaboratively with classmates, increasing
the levels of engagement in order to promote the understanding, retention and transfer of knowledge.
Depending upon the characteristics of the projects, the LoTi level can easily move into Level 5 or Level 6
of the LoTi framework.
Importance of technology:
Technology is a vital part of this project. Internet access ties the home and school into a seamless
learning environment. Luckily, Internet access is becoming a common feature within todays society. If
home access is not available, many businesses and government facilities provide free WiFi for individual
use. This access brings learning to a new level.
Inspiration (optional):
Internet Safety and Student Privacy:
When

allowing students access to the web the appropriate security measures must be taken to ensure
their safety. Guidelines for proper decorum and web use protocols should be developed and posted,
school guidelines and rules must be adhered to rigidly, and CIPA (children's internet protection act) and
FERPA (family educational rights and privacy act) must be followed rigidly. Students must always have
their identities protected, and no specific individual information or images should be posted in public areas
that are not password protected. In addition I would make sure to keep open communication with the
parents by email and the blog posts to include them, introduce them to the blog site, and hopefully gain
their support and interaction.

Describe your personal learning goal for this activity.

Communication between the home and school is vital to a positive learning experience for all students.
The classroom blog, when used as a learning tool, promotes a 24/7 learning environment for students and
establishes an easy method for parents to remain up-to-date on school information. Utilizing this tool
throughout the school year enables easy access for students and parents, connecting the home and school
into a strong, seamless learning environment.
Other comments about your proposed activity: I look forward to exploring this resource with my
students.