Mythology+Blog+Posts

= NETS*T for Mythology Blog Activity =

** 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity **
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: .....a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness .....b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources .....d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

** 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments **
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers: .....a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity .....b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress .....c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

** 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning **
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers: .....a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations .....b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation .....d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

** 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility **
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers: .....b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources .....c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

** 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership **
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers: .....b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others .....d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

= Mythology Blog Activity Description =

.....Though blogging is not yet permitted in our district, I plan to get my students familiar with the concept blogging using the WikiSpaces page that they will support for now. Once they open up the notion of blogs I will create an educational blog using []. Students will be required to use it several times during the mythology unit. .....When we do Hercules and his labors, I do not give the kids much detail; I give them the basics. Using our EduBlog page, students will choose one of the labors to create a story about. Their story must include the few details I gave about the labor, but the rest is to be made up. They are to give details leading up to the labor, exactly what happens while completing the labor, and what happened once it was complete. As a follow-up to their story, they will then pose one question for their classmates to ponder and respond to. The question can be asking for an opinion of the new details, asking for a new detail, a "what happened next" type question, or anything else related to their story and the labor. They will then read at least 2 classmates' labor stories and answer the questions in meaningful, positive ways. .....Toward the end of the unit, students will create another blog entry. As their favorite demigod, they are to write a letter to their immortal parent. In the letter they need to give a brief account of their life with their mortal family. They need to relate how their life seems "different" from other kids they know, because of the fact that they are a demigod. They then will ask their immortal parent a couple questions about their own life. As follow-up they will then read at least 2 classmates' letters to their parents. They will respond meaningfully and positively, pretending to be the immortal parent and writing a response back to their demigod child. .....The last interactive blog entry will require the students to choose their favorite mythological creature for a double-ended contest. They will post a blog entry which describes their creature without naming it. Each student will then read as many other students' creature descriptions as possible, offering a guess on what the creature is. Each student will be responsible for recording one piece of data from the responses received on their original posts: they will record each student who correctly identified their creature. From this they will record on a chart each student who answered correctly. There are two ways to win: having the most people correctly identify your creature and correctly identifying the most of your classmates' creatures. These students will be featured on the blog as "Mythology Stars". .....I love the ability for students to interact creatively online via blogging. Eventually, as my district warms up to online collaboration, it would be fun to open these activities up to a collaborating classroom in another town, state, or country. This would be a great motivational tool for students whose writing skills are hindered by learning disabilities.