Monday, August 19, 2013

Welcome to our class blog!
     Think of this space as an extension of our classroom.  We are a community of learners (can I call us a chemmunity?) and this is the space where we will help each other learn the concepts we explore in class.  This will be an especially good place for you to visit when you have been absent.

How is this going to work?
     If you have a facebook or twitter account, you are kind of already a blogger.  Blogging is just posting articles, thoughts, pictures, etc., onto a community (chemmunity) space, where many people can see them.  
     Each day a different person in the class will be responsible for writing a scribe post of that day's class.  The scribe post will not only summarize what we did in class that day, but will also provide an explanation of that day's topic.  In your explanation you may choose to include class notes, graphs or other images, links to explanatory videos, and questions you still have about the topic.  Anyone is free to respond helpfully to posted questions.  Examples of how to solve problems are also a great thing to include in your post!
     The person who writes the scribe post for a given day will decide who the next scribe will be.

How do I become a scribe post author?
     I will send you an invitation via your school email address.  When you reply, you will be able to write posts.

How do I publish a post?
     Blogger is very user-friendly, and I think you'll find posting to be pretty self-explanatory.  But take a look at this video to see how it's done....



How will I know it's my turn to post?
     Posted on our Moodle page is a class roster.  When you have finished your scribe post, at the bottom of it, write "The next scribe post author is ______" and select any name you like from the list.  Next day in class it will be that person's turn to write the scribe post.

How often will I have to post?
     Each person needs to post a minimum of once per quarter, four times per school year.  You will label your scribe post with your name so we know how many times you've posted.

What are labels?
     Labels are sometimes referred to as "tags" (kind of like "hashtags" on Twitter).  They will be a very important part of how we keep our blog organized, and they will help me keep track of your contributions through the year for your grade (yup, you'll get a blogging grade).  For every post you complete you must include the following three labels:
  1. Your name.  Please use your first name and last initial (ex: Jane D.) 
  2. The unit we are studying (refer to the titles used in Moodle for each unit).
  3. The topic we are studying.
So...I can post anything?
     Well, no, of course not!  Although our blog will be restricted to our class, you already know that there really is no such thing as privacy on the internet.  Blogging especially is inherently a very public arena.  Anything you post on the internet will always be on the internet.  You can delete a post immediately, but you have no way of knowing that it does not still exist somewhere in cyberspace.  Also, this blog is an extension of our classroom, so of course any rules that apply in our classroom apply on the blog.  Never say anything online that you would not be proud to take credit and responsibility for in person.

I get it Ms. Friedmann.  What are the rules of digital ethics?
  1. Use only your first name and last initial.
  2. NEVER post pictures of yourself or classmates.
  3. NEVER give out or record personal information on our blog.  The world is not entitled to the details of your private life.
  4. Be respectful, whether in agreement or disagreement.
  5. Never add a link to your post that you have not thoroughly read.  As soon as you post it, you are associated with it.  Make sure you are okay with that.
  6. Credit where credit is due...if the words are not your own, tell us whose they are, or you are plagiarizing.
     Remember:  Our blog is a public space.  These posts could affect your future.  Many employers already conduct internet searches on job applicants and employees.  College admissions offices do it, too.  When that potential boss in 2025 discovers thoughts you posted in your younger years, what impression do you want to leave her with?  Never say anything online that you would not be proud to take credit and responsibility for in person.  Not on blogger, not on facebook, not on instagram, not on twitter...not anywhere.  The world has enough negativity in it...make your digital marks positive ones!

     You may have seen this video already; if not, please take a few minutes to watch:
   

Happy new school year!  I'm looking forward to our time together.

:) Ms. Friedmann





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