M.+Elvin+7-D-2+Permission+Letter

Dear Parents: For the 2010-2011 school year, Miss Elvin’s science class will be taking part in using technology and web 2.0 tools in the classroom. Two of the tools that will be a part of 8th grade physical science classroom are wikis and weblogs.

A wiki is a website where students in a classroom may work collaboratively to post information related to a class topic or project. Each member of the wiki has the ability to add, delete or edit information to develop a presentation that is web based.

A weblog, or more commonly called a blog, is a web space where individuals may create original writings and post them to be viewed publicly. Each blog may bse updated easily and has its own date stamp for each entry. Every entry has a comment section where visitors my leave comments for the author. This allows for easy tracking and cataloging on comments. In addition comments may be monitored to be view immediately or be approved before viewing.

The purpose for having your student participate in wikis and blogs is to introduce them to web 2.0 technologies and the future of online collaboration for study, research, and 21st century learning. It is my hope that your student will not only learn the content of 8th grade physical science, but also be encouraged and motivated to study the topics in class further, to help them see the possibilities of careers beyond high school.
 * The Purpose and Plan**

Throughout the year your student will be performing various labs in class. After the labs your student will be asked to post their lab data with their group on a class wiki. Once they post their data, they will be able to view other group's data to compare results.

Besides posting data on a class wiki, the students may also be asked to post their lab conclusion on a weblog. The conclusion will be written in a paragraph format stating the hypothesis for the lab, explaining how the data supports or does not support the hypothesis, what they liked most about the lab, and any further questions they may have related to the topic of the lab. All conclusions will be type written and previewed by the teacher before they are posted to the blog. Students will have class time to work on the wiki and blog writing, but it may be necessary for them to work on the assignments at home on occasion.

By using these technology tools students will be able to not only interact with each other via the web, but they will also be able to connect with students in other classrooms both locally and abroad. Parents, you will also have the ability to comment on the blog posting if you desire. It is hoped that all who view the blog and leave comments will be encouraging, engaging and appropriate in all their responses.

Your child’s safety both online and off is my top priority. The use of technology in the classroom will be monitored closely to minimize risk to your child. The only personally identifying information included in the blog will be their first name. There will be no mention of our school name or location. Students are allowed to post their interests and opinions as they respond to the lab, but not their age, e-mail address, photographs of themselves, or other sensitive information. If they desire, your child may also post on the blog using an alias, much like they have in their foreign language class. Again, please be aware, all information posted will be monitored. Please note, if for whatever reason you do not want your child to be a part of the public world wide web, alternative posting may be made on the school’s moodle classroom site. These posting will only be able to be viewed by the teacher, administrators, and your student’s classmates. Equal grading will be given for these posts as well.
 * Security**

The lab blog assignment and wiki data posting will be part of your child’s science marking period grade. As with other projects completed in school, students will receive guidelines to help with completion and a scoring rubric.
 * Assessment**

Wikispaces Wordpress Blog Moodle
 * Resources** to be used in this project include the following:

Before your students may begin working on the class wiki and blog, we are asking for you and your student to discuss and sign the following form. Please return the form to Miss Elvin.
 * Permission**

1. Students using blogs and wikis are expected to act safely by keeping personal information out of their posts. You agree to not post or give out your family name, password, user name, email address, home address, school name, city, country or other information that could help someone locate or contact you in person. You may share your interests, ideas and preferences.
 * Online Technology Posting Conditions and Contract**

2. Students using blogs and wikis agree not to share their user name or password with anyone besides their teachers and parents. You agree to never log in as another student.

3. Students using blogs and wikis are expected to treat these online spaces as classroom spaces. Speech that is inappropriate for class is not appropriate for your blog or wiki. While you are encouraged to engage in debate and conversation with other bloggers, it is expected that you will conduct yourself in a manner reflective of a representative of this school and an educated community.

4. Student blogs and wikis are to be a forum for student expression. However, they are first and foremost a tool for learning, and as such will sometimes be constrained by the various requirements and rules of classroom teachers. Students are welcome to post on any school-appropriate subject.

5. Students blogs and wikis are to be a vehicle for sharing student writing with real audiences. Most visitors to your blog or wiki who leave comments will leave respectful, helpful messages. If you receive a comment that makes you feel uncomfortable or is not respectful, tell your teacher right away. Do not respond to the comment.

6. Students using blogs and wikis take good care of the computers by not downloading or installing any software without permission, and not clicking on ads or competitions.

7. Students who do not abide by these terms and conditions may lose their opportunity to take part in this project and may be subject to school discipline according to the district “Acceptable Use Policy”. Parents and administration will be notified for any and all safety and/or disciplinary action taken.

Student’s signature: _ Date:

__Parent signature:__ Date: _ Lesson Plan Home