K-12 Blogger Sessions

School sessions are designed to teach teachers and students how to use blogger for collaborative projects, especially in Social Studies and Language Arts. School sessions are usually a day long with responsible students from each class in grades 4-12 being trained as assistants for when their class comes to a computer lab or the whole class has access to laptop computers. [See Participating in FACTSned (FACTSnet Educational Blogs)]

Grades 1-6

In these sessions it is suggested that students in grades 4-6 are paired up with students in grades 1-3. The older students read and help the younger students with projects related to topics assigned by the teacher. Topics for grades 1&2 could relate to social studies and resources found in local history books. Teachers can set up a class (school) blogger accounts so that responsible students can do some authoring functions.

Grades 7-12

Students who are at least 13 years old can get personal blogger accounts and could participate in inter-school networks as blog authors. Sessions for grades 7-12 will vary depending on the interest of the sponsoring school.

Grades 10-12 CTS Credit  FACTSnet Workshops

FACTSnet is working with schools to offer CTS Project Module (email factsc@gmail.com to get access to this link) credit in conjunction with our blogger workshops and certification of blog administrators.

To schedule a training session email factsc@gmail.com

Workshops in General

Workshops (need to be registered to have access) are designed to facilitate participation in FACTSnet blogs, see Participation in FACTSnet Blogs post for the different levels of participation.

Workshops are usually custom designed to meet specific needs an all day workshop will include workshops for authors, administrators, and introduce coordinator and other levels of participation, as well provide an overview of FACTSnet.

For Schools see K-12 Blogger Training Sessions

Community Sessions:

These sessions are 2 - 3 hours of initial training for each level of FACTSnet Blog participation.
Coordinators will also follow up training by participating in one or more blogs with trainees who are interning to become coordinators.

For more information, or to register for a workshop, please email factsc@gmail.com.

Index

• Workshops in General  
• Educational Blogger Training Sessions
• Exerpts from "To blog or not to blog" (Lists the benefits of blogging).
  

Past Workshops: 

• Summer Heritage 2009 & August 20 Blogger Workshop
• FACTSnet (Family and Community Twining Society Networks) Workshop Feedback from March 6th workshop
  
  

Exerpts from "To blog or not to blog"

The following experts from page 26 of the October 9, 2009, Spruce Grove Examiner show some of the benefits of  blogging.  Large font added for emphasis.
"First of all,the word blog is short for 'web

log,' and is basically a source of information logged online.It is a very broad term,as a blog can be anything from a journal of activi- ties to commentary on current events to tips on making crafts at home....
Since this column is geared to business and marketing,I will concentrate on the busi- ness functions of blogging,but the principles apply to personal blogging and special inter- est blogs like charities,bands and schools as well.
In business,blogs are a fantastic vehicle for engaging your customers and clients ...Some of the most important benefits of abusiness blog are:

1. It establishes a relationship between your readers and your organization.  The most likely company to get business is the one that has established a relationship of trust.Trust then enhances customer loyalty.
   
   
2. As a more unconventional form of ad- vertising,blogs can bring heightened aware- ness of your brand.
   
   
3. Though the information your provide is free of charge,your message can also spread free of charge by your readers passing along articles they enjoy to their friends whom they feel will benefit from the content you haveprovided.Don ’t tell me you don ’t like free ad- vertising!
   
   
4. Your blog can help to position you as an expert authority on a given topic and build your reputation.
   
   
5. Blogs also rank high in search engine results,so your blog will be accessible to those searching online for the kind ofinformation you provide...."

By Jake Bergen contributing writ-er and Marketing Director of Trac-
tor Beam Marketing.
Link to complete article To Blog or Not to Blog

Sponsors Summer 2009

The following is a list of sponsors for this blog:

1. Canada Summer Jobs
2. FACTS
3. Centralta Tourism Society
4. Collaborative Information Networks

August 20 Blogger Workshop

FACTS is hosting a workshop on August 20, 2009 to teach interested participants the components in operating the FACTSnet blogs, with and emphasis on blogs related to St. Albert 150th anniversary celebrations and our Inspiring Heritage Initiative.

For a taste of what we will be talking about that day, click here.

For more information on the general workshop, click here.

For more information, or to register for the workshop, please email factsc@gmail.com.