Quadblogging
QuadBlogging is a platform used to connect with other schools while your class blogs. You’re connected into a ‘quad’ of four. Your blog goes through a rotation where it’s the focus for a given period of time. The founder of quadblogging, David Mitchell aka Deputy Mitchell, saw the potential of blogging. Statistics showed that it improved student writing, students had an audience, but he wanted to add a real world element to the exercise. As a result of this he created quads. (140Talks)
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The purpose of quadblogging is to create an authentic writing audience for students beyond their own school environment. Mitchell had asked his followers on Twitter - ‘A blog without an audience is like…’ and he received some really really great responses such as, ‘A blog without an audience is like a library without books’. (140Talks) This really made me think about the depth and value of what could be extracted from such an experience. As students connect with other classes, in their quad, they add value to their writing, get feedback on the content, and get true meaning to the concept of being a digital citizen.
Although the content varies from school to school, students get feedback and a different perspectives on topics they are studying which enhanced their learning. For example, here is a quad with a school in Canada, Australia, and two classes from the US. (http://edublogs.misd.net/techiekids/tag/bookquest/) Similarly here is another quad with schools in the UK, Australia, and the US. (https://missblessings.edublogs.org/quadblogging/) One challenge I saw was that the quality of the posts from visiting bloggers were not of high quality. However, this could be used as a teachable moment to prompt how to respond with content. This in itself adds to the authentic experience students go through.
Micro-quadblogging could also take place in the same school. In fact I see this a great place to start as a pilot. This took place in Point View Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand. One approach this school focused on was to ‘set collective goals– to get the kids reading blogs, to enjoy what others are writing and learning about, to have an authentic audience and to learn to comment effectively. (http://quadblogging.net/micro-quadblogging/)
Micro-quadblogging could also take place in the same school. In fact I see this a great place to start as a pilot. This took place in Point View Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand. One approach this school focused on was to ‘set collective goals– to get the kids reading blogs, to enjoy what others are writing and learning about, to have an authentic audience and to learn to comment effectively. (http://quadblogging.net/micro-quadblogging/)
The key is first to have a blog presence and demonstrate the value of connecting outside the classroom. Next teaching students the importance of having a digital footprint and to be conscience of the content that they are posting. Heathfield Primary School, which is where David Mitchell founded the concept of Quadblogging, true demonstrated this with his students. (BBC One) Once this is establish, teachers could invite outside companies/organizations, depending on the topic, to have a look and comment. (140Talks & BBC One) Finally once this is established a class is ready to quadblog.
Many of the examples are from primary, and I had trouble finding examples from secondary school. Why not go straight to the source - I tweeted David Mitchell. It turns out that since 2011 over 1000 secondary school have taken part in quadblogging. (@DeputyMitchell) Currently there are 30 secondary schools waiting to be assigned a quad, and interestingly none from the UK. (@DeputyMitchell) |
Sources:
140Talks. "State of Now #140conf NYC 2012: David Mitchell, "QuadBlogging - Linking Learning to Global Audience"" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8J8Jrr_eq4 YouTube. YouTube, 18 July 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
"QuadBlogging®." QuadBlogging. www.quadblogging.net Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
"Heathfield on BBC Breakfast." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsjl-mUGmOc YouTube. YouTube, 14 Feb. 2011. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
140Talks. "State of Now #140conf NYC 2012: David Mitchell, "QuadBlogging - Linking Learning to Global Audience"" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8J8Jrr_eq4 YouTube. YouTube, 18 July 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
"QuadBlogging®." QuadBlogging. www.quadblogging.net Web. 16 Feb. 2017.
"Heathfield on BBC Breakfast." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsjl-mUGmOc YouTube. YouTube, 14 Feb. 2011. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.