Want to learn more about blogging? Or gain a better understanding of how to use it with students? Why not start up and/or take part in a Blogging Challenge and encourage other people to join you?
Challenges have significantly improved my blogging skills, ability to use Web 2.0 tools and form connections with other people.
Challenges that I’ve been involved in include:
- 31 Days Project (August 2007)
- Comment Challenge (May 2008)
- Student Blogging Competition (Sept-Nov 2008)
- Web 2.0 Wednesdays (ongoing)
31 Day Project
In August, 2007 Darren (Problogger) ran a 31 Days to Build a Better Blog project, with new tasks to be completed daily.
We formed a community, of 14 participants (including a student class blog), who undertook this challenge together (we called it our Chocolate Challenge).
Community members found that knowledge gain from the 31 Day Project was greater than working as individuals, because each individual sees a different perspective of the task – giving participants greater “food for thought!”
Click on a participant to visit their 31 Day Project Page to read about their learning journey during this project:
- Michelle Martin, Cammy Bean, Tim Davies
- Christine Martell, Alex Miller, Eklavya
- France McLean, Kate Foy, Kate Quinn
- Sue Waters, Laura Whitehead, Sue Hickton
- Paul Webster, Al Upton and the Minilegends
Comment Challenge
The concept behind the 31 Day Comment Challenge is similar to the 31 Days To Build a Better Blog Project Sue Waters and Michele Martin completed in 2007.
Commenting on blogs is a crucial aspect of blogging conversations for achieving the greatest learning. Trouble is factors often limit people’s commenting practices so they don’t experience this learning and fail to appreciate it’s value.
The idea of the challenge was to engage others, especially new people, in commenting. It was coordinated by Sue Waters, Silvia Tolisano, Michele Martin and Kim Cofino.
Student Blogging Competition
Miss Wyatt set up a blogging competition for school students involving 10 weeks worth of activities, one challenge each week.
This is a great opportunity for:
- Students to connect with other student bloggers while improving blogging skills.
- Teacher to guide their students through the process of learning to blog and improving their reflective writing skills.
You can read more about what’s involved in this post.
Thanks for checking out our class blog. I’ve started introducing it to my 4th graders this year, and they’ve been so excited. They are already seeing such benefits. I’m hoping by checking out other blogs by elementary classes they will continue to be inspired.