21 CLASSES

OVERVIEW
COOPERATIVE LEARNING This package contains the necessary steps to take as an
educator in BC in order to properly prepare yourself and
your students to use a social media tool for educational
CLASSROOM BLOGS: purposes. This package will help teachers work within the
regulations of FIPPA and passing on our knowledge to our

SOCIAL MEDIA students will help them understand the importance and
necessity in being aware of their digital footprint.

RESOURCE PACKAGE Jillian Astren

OLTD 506, Fall 2016;Professor J. Hengstler
Resources for using 21 Classes with flipped classroom
and peer tutoring opportunities with Grade 8-12
Mathematics classes.
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

RESOURCE PACKAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS

RESOURCE PACKAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. 1

About This Social Media Tool ..........................................................................................................2
Tool Backgrounder .........................................................................................................................4
Consent Form.................................................................................................................................6
Essentials for Instruction ................................................................................................................7
References ................................................................................................................................... 11

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 1
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

About This Social Media Tool

About My Chosen Social Media Tool

(To get 20th point, form must be filled completely)

My Name Jillian Astren

TOOL Name 21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs

TOOL URL https://www.21classes.com/

A class can have its own portal, where all students will have their own
blog. It can motivate stronger students to help others and strengthen the
General Description interaction between students, who can also give students a platform to
(2 pts) discuss topics covered in class outside of school. There are a variety of
options regarding registration, privacy and security settings and teachers
can also manage their students' blog entries.

Is it Open or
It can be fenced or open as the site admin can control the privacy settings
Fenced? (1pt)
for the blog portal.

Storage External to Storage External: a search on IP Location shows 21classes.com to be in

Canada? (2 pts) Germany through Hetzner Online, which is a professional web hosting
provider and experienced data center operator.

There is an option to allow your students to decide for themselves if an

Accessible External entry should be private or public and if comments may be written by
to Canada? (1 pt) everyone or just registered users. Students may also moderate new
comments on their own entries so they can learn how and why to protect
themselves on the Internet.

Name of school/location
Cowichan Valley School District 79, when I get a contract.
where I plan to use this

PRIVATE - With just one click you can set all entries on your BlogPortal to
Is it public or
be private, which means that only registered users can see the blog
private? (1 pt)
communitys content. Could also be public though if you didnt set it to
this.

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 2
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

Level? (1 pt)
(elementary, middle
school, secondary, Grades 8-12
post- secondary)

Particular subject,
class, or course
Math
(1pt)

User groups
(students,
parents/guardians, Students/Teachers up to 100 users
teachers,
colleagues,
administrators, etc.) Promoting collaboration amongst students.
(1 pt)

Applicable FIPPA
Legislation/Policies in My
Context (3 pts) SD79 Instructional Technology Service Plan 2013-2018
Teacher can post lecture videos, detailing questions step by step for
Activity Idea 1 (2 pts)
students to view outside of class. Flipped Classroom.
Students can post pictures on their blog of a problem they are working
through and cant find their mistake - ask for help, or help each other
Activity Idea 2 (2 pts)
with homework questions instead of waiting to get help the next class.
Participation is therefore voluntary.
Consent forms; guidelines for appropriate sharing so full assignments are
Necessary Resources
not being passed around; do not need email addresses as site admin can
(2 pts)
create a profile for student and give them a login and password.

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 3
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

Tool Backgrounder
This year our class is excited to use a social media tool called 21 Classes Cooperative Learning
Classroom Blogs. You can find 21 Classes at https://www.21classes.com/shop/blogportal. Our class will
have its own portal, where all students will have their own blog and be able to interact online within the
portal. Within our classroom portal students will be able to find video lectures created and distributed
by me. They will also be able to post in image or text. We will use 21 Classes as additional support
resource for students to connect to teacher content and to connect to each other in order to either: get
help with a question or concept they are struggling with at home, access content if theyve been absent
from class, or demonstrate their learning by helping other students.

Privacy Considerations

This tool does not require students personal information to create an account. The students will
be directed to choose a screen name, which will be shared with the class, and their own
password. As the site administrator I will set up their username and password and provide
students and parents with this information to login to our fenced portal. While using 21 Classes,
students will be asked to post their questions or comments in picture or text form. The location
of the server for 21 Classes is in Germany, however, I will set all student accounts to only allow
members of our class MrsAMathHelp to see posts within our portal. Students will be explicitly
directed to maintain privacy and not share their own or others information by any other
technological means.
Therefore a consent form will be sent home with students to be signed before they will be able
to access the classroom portal. These regulations and concerns stem from BC history of youth
being targeted online. The use of 21 Classes allows students to blog in a fenced internet setting.

21 Classes Privacy Policy

If students are to use this service they will be accepting 21 Classes Privacy Policy. Some of the
policy will not apply to students, however the following does. The following website traffic
information will be collected: the Web address of the site that you came from, collect
information on which pages of [the] Web site you visit while you are on [their] hosted site, the
type of browser you use and the times you access [their] hosted sites. The site will sometimes
use cookies to collect anonymous information. The following information regarding cookies
should be understood: A cookie is an element of data that a Web site can send to your browser,
which may then be stored on your system. You can set your browser to notify you before you
receive a cookie, giving you the chance to decide whether to accept it. You can also set your
browser to turn off cookies. If you do so, however, some areas of some sites may not function
properly (21 Publish Web Services, 2013).
For further details, please refer to 21 Classes Privacy Policy which can be found at
https://www.21classes.com/shop/privacy.

A key risk is students taking content outside of our safe, fenced, classroom portal by means of
screen capture and posting in a non controlled environment. However, preventative measures will be

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 4
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

put in place by educating students on the purpose of a safe online classroom portal and their digital
footprint. As mentioned in the 21 Classes Privacy Policy students need to be educated on how to disable
cookies at school and at home. As a class we will have a face to face seminar on how to do this, as well
as I will post a instructional video to the classroom portal and my website. Another risk that may make
students hesitant to use this resource is fear of alienation or rejection for not understanding a topic and
asking for help. I will take every step possible to create a culture of acceptance of all capabilities and use
this resource to build a sense of community and peer to peer help throughout the class. Lastly, if picture
images that students post include an identifying picture, their identity will be known within our
classroom portal if an outsider were to hack in. Students will be instructed to only post images of their
work excluding their name. The purpose is to discuss questions and content and there is no reason for
students to be posting images of anything but work they need help with or they are helping with. While
no internet-based experience can ever be 100% risk-free, I am taking every reasonable measure to
manage expected risks within our classroom portal.

When using 21 Classes we will be sticking with SD79 technology goals to offer all students
technology infused learning that is personalized, has the potential to be accessed anytime anywhere,
and that redefines how learning processes take place (Cowichan Valley School District, n.d.). More about
the SD79 learning goals can be found at http://sd79.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Tech-Plan-2013-
18v2f.pdf.

This resource is to be used on an as-needed basis and is not mandatory. Should you have any
questions or concerns regarding this resource, either before or during use, please contact me,
Jillian Astren jastren@sd79.bc.ca.

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 5
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

Consent Form
The social media tool that I would like to use with our class is called 21 Classes Cooperative
Learning Classroom Blogs and can be accessed at https://www.21classes.com/shop/blogportal. We
will have our own portal, where all students will have their own blog and be able to interact online only
with others inside our portal. Within our classroom portal students will be able to find video lecture
created and distributed by me, as well as post their own images or text. The blog portal will provide
support resources for students to connect to class content and each other. The portal can provide help
with a question or concept students are struggling with at home, access to content missed because of an
absence, or a way for students to demonstrate their learning by helping other students.

This tool does not require students personal information to create an account. The students
may choose a screen name, which will be shared with the class, and their own password. As the site
administrator, I will set up their username and password and provide students and parents with this
information to login to our fenced portal meaning only those who I grant access to our classroom
portal will be able to see content posted by either myself or by students. Students will have access to
the classroom portal for the duration of our semester. At the end of the semester students blogs as well
as any entries/comments they have made within the classroom portal will be deleted. As the
administrator of the class portal, if students are not using the classroom portal for its designated
purpose their entries/comments will be deleted, and they will receive a warning. If there is a second
instance of inappropriate use their blog will be deleted and access to this resource will not be granted
until a parent-student-teacher meeting is held.

While no internet-based experience can ever be 100% risk-free, I am taking every reasonable
measure to manage expected risks within our classroom portal. If a student has any issues with the use
of the tool, negative experiences, breach of privacy, etc. it must be reported to the teacher immediately.

I have read the attached 21 Classes Social Media Tool Backgrounder, and am aware that this
resource will involve the use of 21 Classes. I am aware that use of this tool will not require storage or
access to personal information external to Canada. I have read the attached 21 Classes Social Media
Tool Backgrounder detailing potential risks and steps the teacher will take to mitigate these risks.

By our signatures below we agree to the use of 21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom
Blogs for the purpose described above.

Student:_________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian:__________________________________________

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 6
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

Essentials for Instruction

Tool: 21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs
Grade Level/Year
(or Course Level--300, Secondary, Grade 8-12.
400, 500):
Class/Course/Subject: Grade 8-12 Math Courses, optional resource.

Tool use and access will end at semester end.

Resource is optional as not all students have easy access to
internet/device/computer outside of school hours.
Students will respect the privacy of our fenced classroom
portal and not distribute posts outside of it by other means.
There will be a range of student digital competencies in:
blogging, video recording, image capturing, and uploading
content.
Students will be guided by the teacher to use their chosen
Key Assumptions: username and password to login, create a basic profile.
(worth 2 pts) Access to classroom lessons and real-time help from peers is
desired.
Teacher understands 21 Classes Cooperate Learning
Classroom Blogs and is efficient in having the site
administrator role.
Teacher has a designed a solid homepage for the classroom
portal to allow students ease of finding content.
At semesters end, teacher will manually delete all student
accounts, automatically removing all their entries and
comments from the portal.

Ensure planned use is compatible with school policy and/or has

Prior to Use with
Class: (worth 4 pts)
administrative approval.
Create and present a tool backgrounder and consent form to
administration for approval.
Create behavioral expectations/guidelines and netiquette
document.
Distribute backgrounder, consent form and behavioural
expectations as a package to students/parents for signatures.
Create screencast of how-to login, navigate, upload, and post
within the classroom portal. Post to teacher website for
students to access it.
With students, create a clear expectations and process for
students around reporting incidents of concern.

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 7
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

Share students username and password with students/parents.

General Tool Introduction

Describe 21 Classes Cooperate Learning Classroom blogs to

classoverview of tool.
Share rationale with students and how the resource can help
them whether they are looking for lessons theyve missed,
assistance with homework, or wanting to strengthen their
understanding of a concept by assisting another student.
Show and speak to sceencast demo of your own 21 Classes
account & how it works. Post to teacher website for
later/additional viewing by students and parents.
Review the terms of service for 21 Classes with students.
Review the privacy policy for 21 Classes with students.
Review behavioural expectations/guidelines.
From demo, discuss what appropriate and inappropriate
uses of 21 Classes might look like & how to report incidents of
concern
Use With Class:
Discuss how inappropriate events or incidents of concern with
(worth 12 pts)
the tool should be reported to the teacher and initial response
by student. Discuss potential discipline in case of inappropriate
introduction to
behaviour
tool use-4 pts
E.g. Distribution of any classroom portal content
planned activity 1-
outside of the fenced portal immediate loss of
-4 pts
access/removal of student account. Student-Parent-
planned activity 2-
Teacher meeting mandatory before access reinstated.
-4 pts)
Students will create individual usernames and passwords and
share with the teacher.
Site administrator (teacher) will create profiles from
admin login.
Students must be coached prior to starting that
only admin added accounts will be allowed. If
students create an account with an email, they
will be removed.
Usernames will be an alias that students choose, not
their real name or student number.
Must create appropriate aliases.
Teacher should compile a list of all student
aliases and associated passwords.
Go over student blog settings as controlled by the site
administrator (teacher) for full disclosure of teacher control.
New entries will be approved by teacher before
they are published.
New comments in all blogs will be approved by
teacher before they are published.
Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 8
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

Entries are visible for MrsAMathHelp

members or Private only.
Comments are allowed for MrsAMathHelp
members only.
Students may not override visibility and
comment settings for their entries.
Define and explain features for student use.
Tagging enabled (allows entering key words per
entry).
Entry titles mandatory for easier navigation.
Automatic image resizing.
Ability to select current mood/share whats
currently playing.
Ability to create your own weblog layout.
Portal-wide search offered.
Webspace not limited per student account but
shared among all accounts.
Walk students through navigating the classroom portal
homepage.
Walk students through how to navigate their own weblog page.
Walk students through navigating others weblogs.
Walk students through capturing image.
Walk students through uploading image.
Walk students through posting image to weblog.
Walk students through features mentioned above.
Walk students through a demo of incident reportingincluding
steps, how to take a screen capture, and how to share it with the
teacher.
Share resource with parents/caregivers.

Activity 1: Login to the portal and navigate the classroom homepage.

Students use their username and password to login.
In the top right corner click community homepage.
Write down the four navigation boxes on the right hand side of
the portal.
Video Lectures
Registered Users
Navigation
My Favourites
Write down the image you seen on the community homepage.
Click on the Welcome post and share a fact about math!
Go to the Video Lectures and watch the Lecture posted
October 12, 2016. What kind of food is referred to in the math
problem being solved?
Return to your dashboard.
Logout.

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 9
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

Activity 2: Posting a Video, Image or text to your blog.

Take an image of the content that you want to discuss.

Upload the content to your computer and name the file.
Login to the portal.
Go to your dashboard if not automatically directed there.
Under Weblogs, click your username.
Mouse over entries, in the drop down box select New Entry
Give your entry a title.
Select the tree (when you mouse over it, should show
Insert/Edit Image.
You will prompt with a box that allows you to find the image
on your computer.
Select browse and find the file by the file name you previously
gave it.
Then select upload image.
Check the image in the preview box and select Insert if you
are happy with it.
Select if you want this post to be visible to members of
MrsAMathHelp or only yourself (Private).
Either Publish to post to your weblog, save as draft to continue
working on it later, or cancel if you decide to not use the post.
Return to your dashboard by clicking dashboard on the top
right.
Logout

After Class Activities

Show students how I delete their accounts once the semester
with Tool Complete:
ends, if behaviour standards are not met, or if weblog is
(worth 2 pts)
compromised.

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 10
21 Classes Cooperative Learning Classroom Blogs Resource Package By Jillian Astren
Date: October 2016

References

21Publish Web Services GmbH. (2013). 21 Classes Privacy Policy. Retrieved from

https://www.21classes.com/shop/privacy

Cowichan Valley School District. (n.d.). Instructional Technology Service Plan. Retrieved from Cowichan

Valley School District website: http://sd79.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Tech-Plan-2013-18v2f.pdf

Created for Vancouver Island University Faculty of Education Course: OLTD 506 Fall 2016 11