dwalker

Dear parents/guardians,

As a critical component of AP English this year, each student will create and maintain a weblog, or “blog”.  A weblog is a web-based and text-based chronicle of the individual’s conversations and personal reflections on specific course-related ideas. We use it as a means to carry on the discussions we begin in class, as a means to share  and get feedback on longer writing, and to reflect on the reading that we have done, to name a few. What makes the weblog different from a traditional website is that the blog allows for immediate response. When I read another’s post, I can immediately post a comment to the writer offering my thoughts on his/her idea. And the writer can respond back to me.  Teachers around the country, as well as around the world, are using blogs to open up their classrooms to new ideas and to connect their students outside the classroon.  A blog is a powerful learning tool that forces students to be accountable for their own learning and gives them the opportunity to publish their findings.

Student blogs are a great fit for Connecticut’s state standards for English and the language arts, which call for students to be able to read and respond to texts in a variety of forms and from many cultures, to use English to communicate their ideas clearly and proficiently, and to employ the language arts for lifelong learning, work, and enjoyment.  They provide a wonderful opportunity to practice writing in different styles and for different purposes.  In addition, as students become more blog-savvy, they will gain valuable experience in evaluating the merits of different sources, becoming skilled media critics.

There has been much attention lately on the dangers of the internet.  Social-networking sites like MySpace, for example, allow teenagers to post revealing or incriminating pictures and information that make them easy targets for unsavory characters.  I want to make it clear that a class blog has nothing to do with that sort of site.  Your student’s blog, in accordance with Greenwich High School’s Acceptable Use Policy, will be for academic use only.  Revelation of personal information, including (but not limited to) a student’s full name, address, identifying characteristics, or personal photograph, may be cause for immediate deletion of the blog, as well strict disciplinary action.  Your child’s safety is as important to me as it is to you, and I will be monitoring the blogs regularly. For more information on blog safety you might visit http://www.blogsafey.com/forum.jspa?forumID+1100000006.

In addition, I encourage you to read your student’s blog regularly.  Not only will your attention help keep your student safe online, but it will give you additional insight into what we are doing in the classroom and the new knowledge that is being created.  Feel free to leave comments online and to discuss the writing with your student.  These blogs are meant to serve as a document of the progress made during the school year, as well as an invitation to the community to contribute.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at david_walker@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Sincerely,

David Walker 

Blogging Guidelines

Blogging is a very public activity. Anything that gets posted on the internet stays there. Forever. Deleting a post simply removes it from the blog it was posted to. Copies of the post may exist scattered all over the internet. That is why we are being so careful to respect your privacy and using first names only. We do not use pictures of ourselves.

Students using blogs are expected to treat blogspaces as classroom spaces. Speech that is inappropriate for class is not appropriate for our blog. While we encourage you to engage in debate and conversation with other bloggers, we also expect that you will conduct yourself in a manner reflective of a representative of this school.

Never EVER EVER give out or record personal information on your blog. Your blog exists as a public space on the Internet. Don’t share anything that you don’t want the world to know. For your safety, be careful what you say, too. Don’t give out your phone number or home address. This is particularly important to remember if you have a personal online journal or blog elsewhere.

Again, your blog is a public space. And if you put it on the Internet, odds are really good that it will stay on the Internet. Always. That means ten years from now when you are looking for a job, it might be possible for anyone to discover some really hateful and immature things you said when you were younger and more prone to foolish things. Be sure that anything you write you are proud of. It can come back to haunt you if you don’t.

Never link to something you haven’t read. While it isn’t your job to police the Internet, when you link to something, you should make sure it is something that you really want to be associated with. If a link contains material that might be creepy or make some people uncomfortable, you should try a different source.

Freedom of speech comes with personal responsibility.  Everything you post represents you.  You shouldn’t post anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with anyone, from your parents to potential employers, viewing.

 
Blogging Policy

1. I will not use any curse words or inappropriate language.
2. I will not use fighting words or provoke anyone.
3. I will avoid the use of chat language.
4. I will try to spell everything correctly.
5. I will only give constructive criticism.
6. I will only use my first name.
7. I will not post pictures of myself.
8. I will not give out any personal information about myself or anyone else.
9. I am responsible for anything posted in my name.
10. I will not plagiarize.
11. I will use common sense.

I recognize that breaking any of these rules could lead to any of the following consequences depending on severity and repetition:

1. warning
2. deletion of some or all of the post
3. temporary loss of blogging privileges
4. permanent loss of blogging privileges

I further recognize that the blog is considered a virtual extension of our classroom, and therefore all GHS and that all internet usage policies apply. I am aware that violation of any of these rules may be referred to the School Administration.

Adapted from Ms. Simpson’s Mathematical Musings,
http://mathmusings.blogspot.com/2006/01/safe-blogging.html