BLOG: Building Learning

through On-Line Groups

Using Blogs to structure and facilitate conversation
in Professional Learning Communities

Michelle Ronan Barbara Becker

Staff Development Teacher School Counselor
Montgomery County Public Schools Montgomery County Public Schools
Robert Frost Middle School Thomas Wootton High School
Rockville, MD Rockville, MD
Session Outcomes:
As a result of our time together, participants will be able to:
 Articulate the attributes of a blog-based PLC
 Identify the pros and cons of using this structure as a vehicle to
facilitate dialogue and build professional learning capacity in their
school
 Use the free on-line application Blogger.com to create their own blog
 Develop a plan for establishing a structured, on-line PLC in their school
tailored to meet the school’s specific needs

Session Objective:
Create a blog for participants to practice learned skills and share
overviews and resources gathered from concurrent sessions attended.
 THAT’S ME!

When you hear a statement that’s true for you,

stand up and say, “That’s me!”
In your own words, define blog.

Blog is a blend of the term web log and is a type of

website that is typically maintained by an individual

who posts regular entries that allow visitors to leave

comments and even message each other via widgets

on the blogs. It is this interactivity that distinguishes

blogs from other static websites.

There are a lot of types of blogs:
 Personal
 Device
 Genre (political, travel, cooking)
 Media type (video, link, photo)
 Corporate (used to enhance communication and
culture)
Once upon a time at Robert Frost Middle School…
Hmm…

Where to begin…
Things to consider when preparing for your blog:

 What is the purpose/desired outcome?

 Will participation be voluntary or mandatory?
 Who will participate?
 What is the group size?
 How often will you post?
 How often should readers respond?
 Will it be monitored? If so, who will monitor?
 Will it be open (public) or closed (private)?
Let’s get started!
1. Create a blog!
2. Create account or log in
3. Name your blog!
4. Choose a template.
5. Guess what? It’s created!
But you’re not done…
On the design tab, select “Page Elements.”
• Organize the page in a way that is meaningful to your audience
by adding and removing elements.
• Preview as often as you need to make sure it looks the way you
want.
• Remember, you want them to use it. “User friendly” is the goal.

Select “Template Designer.”

• Select the background image and color theme.
• Remember to preview!

Select “Return to Blogger.”

But wait, there’s more!

Select the “Settings” tab.

• Systematically work your way through each sub-tab.

• Remember to select “Save Settings” at the bottom of

each page prior to moving to another sub-tab.

Select the “Posting” tab and begin!

Let’s try it out!
• In the “Authors” box, enter your email address.
• Later, accept the invitation.
• Postsummaries of sessions you attend at the
conference. Try uploading hand-outs and posting
links when applicable.
• Comment on what others have posted. Ask questions,
throw out ideas, etc.
It seems like a good idea, but…
Create your plan of attack!
How it all shapes up:

Something that
squares with my
beliefs…
Three key
points I can
walk away
with…
Something
circling around
in my mind…
Questions? Contact me.
Michelle Ronan
Robert Frost Middle School
9201 Scott Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
301.279.3949
Michelle_L_Ronan@mcpsmd.org
With sincere appreciation to the following:

Courtney Appel Jones, SDT, Wayside ES

Barbara Becker, Counselor, Wootton High School
Dr. Joey N. Jones, Principal, Frost MS
Diane Morris, Principal, Farquhar Middle School
The staff of Robert Frost Middle School,
especially the following bloggers:

Craig McKee Mike McGough

Bob Scribner Mary Horwitz
Tim O’Keefe Christian Hariott
Amy Burner Antonio Carrillo
Teresa Salzano Mark Leatherman
CEU Code
JZ1