We recently ran a book blogging competition at my school, using My Big Campus(an online environment offered by Lightspeed Systems) which offers blogging facilities, chat, groups, messaging, assignment setting and which has been in use here for about a year now and has come to replace our VLE. The initial premise was to encourage students to read, but report on their favourite (or not so favourite reads) using Web 2.0 technology which is a big focus across the school. All students at Key Stage 3 and 4 were made members of the Big Book review which meant that everytime additions were made to the blogs or discussions and responses made, EVERY student in the school received an email alert making it a truly whole school venture. The prize was a massive £150 cash, donated by the Principal, with the idea that we wanted a big impact! with six highly commendeds receiving book vouchers. The winner was judged on the following:
Improving literacy and promoting whole school reading is a continuous process here at the school, but one which can now be combined with our other focus, that of engaging students' learning using Web 2.0. We plan to run another Big Book Review, offering separate cash prizes at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. I am so proud of all students who participated; not only those who actually blogged, but to all those who posted discussions and responses to the original blogs as well.
- The quality of the blog content
- The discussions are open to other My Big Campus members around the world and the number of positive comments each discussion receives will be taken into consideration
- Grammar and punctuation
Improving literacy and promoting whole school reading is a continuous process here at the school, but one which can now be combined with our other focus, that of engaging students' learning using Web 2.0. We plan to run another Big Book Review, offering separate cash prizes at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. I am so proud of all students who participated; not only those who actually blogged, but to all those who posted discussions and responses to the original blogs as well.