Title
Shoot for a creative, relevant title. If you plan to post more frequently than
required, just include “Online Reflection #___” in your title for the post you
want me to evaluate. For example, check out
Kristal’s blog post: Online
Reflection #2 : Laying out the Foundation.
See? Simple as pie. If you have numerous posts on your blog, it
will be helpful to me if you distinguish which posts you want me to evaluate
for assignment purposes (I’ll read/assess all of them, but I’ll just evaluate four of them over the course of
this semester).
Remember that part of the requirement for each of your
three “official” online reflections is that you engage in inquiry (share
ideas/questions you’re wondering about) and connect to professional resources
(e.g., show how you’re using our class texts and/or online resources to answer
your own questions). Each post should be 500-800 words in length.
Check out these great examples of inquiry in action
(click the name, and you’ll connect to the post):
If you’re still wondering what’s possible with your blog
posts, check out this innovative post by Lara
Engle (and read Theresa and Precious’s thoughtful replies after Lara’s
post!)
Blog Design
Take note of the color and size of your text and the
background of your blog. Is it easy to
read? I’m not asking, is it possible to read. Is it EASY?
If it’s not easy to read your posts, you will likely lose some of your
potential audience. Make sure your blog
design allows for EASY viewing.
Replies/Comments: Continuing the Conversation (and earning full
points)
First, don’t forget to compose a thoughtful reply to at least one person’s post within 48 hours of
the online reflection deadline (e.g., deadline for posts = Monday; deadline for
replies = Wednesday).
Check your blog postings for replies, and then respond to them (you should receive an
e-mail notification on the e-mail you connected to your blog when someone
replies on your posts). The best way to
grow an audience is to respond to
that audience. If someone has posted a
question or made a connection to your experience, respond—if only to
thank them for sharing an idea, experience, or advice.
In addition, when you reply to someone else’s post, you
can click the “Subscribe by E-mail” link after the comments in order to receive
notification when the blog’s author (or someone else) responds to your post.
The Importance
Posting On Time
As you’ve probably noticed, I have waited until after your comments/replies were due to
begin my assessment of your online reflection performance. This means, of course, that if you have
updated your blog or posted comments on someone’s blog at some point today, I
most likely have not read it (and you have not earned credit for it).
If you post a blog entry or a reply/comment after the
deadline, send me the link via e-mail, so I can assess your work. For online reflections 2 and 3, you will earn
reduced credit for late postings of any sort.
For online reflection 1, however, I am being lenient because this is a
new experience for most of you. Please
let me know how I can help, and send me links to any late posts by Friday,
Sept. 7.
Thanks again for
your stimulating online conversations!
I hope you will review one another’s postings on our class blog regularly (the blogs
are listed according to most recent updates).
Use this as an opportunity to connect with your fellow pre-student
teachers, sharing your successes and frustrations, and seeking out advice and
resources.
