Communication Tools Available Through TLW

Integrated Blogs and Discussion Board 9/12/07
For best management we recommend integrating your blogs with your dedicated discussion board. The integrated blog and discussion board combines the ease of management of one login system and the ability to customize privacy to suit your needs. Available with Gold Membership plantoolpurchase.

Below is a list of tools and resources available through The Literacy Workshop:

Blogs (never any advertising!)
Each blog is owned by teacher and student meaning that teacher and student have shared permission to edit and control content. Blogs can be configured in “stand alone” (WordPress format) or in the new integrated system with a discussion board.

Blog Features

• All Users have own unique login. Never any “shared” login and password.
• Comment Approval: Can set up so all comments have to be approved for posting. Removes the potential of spam postings on your blog.
• Privacy: Can be set up so that only logged in members of your classroom can view and comment.
• Teacher can track all classroom blogs to receive notification when new entries are posted.
• Ability to upload files and images.
   
• Suggested uses:
• Classroom activity journal to keep community informed
• Student writing and response journal
• Math problem of the week (don’t post replies for several days)
• Personal reflection and goal setting

Discussion Board (never any advertising!)
Available with premium memberships and is generally configured with one board with up to 35 student members. A dedicated board means that a user group is created for the teacher and students of each classroom. Teachers can moderate the entire class or only students that need more attention. The teacher can decide how to set up forums. Most teachers prefer that forums be restricted so that only members of the classroom group can read and write to the forums.

Discussion Board Features

• Unlimited forums
• Individual students have unique logins and are formed into a private classroom group
• Teacher can moderate entire class or selected members of the group
• Boards and forums can be configured individually in a number of ways
• Read by public, only members can post
• Members from any other classroom group can read and post
• Only classroom members can read and post
• Ability to upload files and images to topics and replies
• Poll and Group calendar feature
• Internal messaging system can be enabled or disabled
   
• Suggested uses:
• Reading response, literature circles
• Classroom meetings
• Space for teams and collaborative projects
• Sharing thoughts, ideas, observations
• Posting homework assignments (2MB upload limit)

Email Accounts
Available with any paid membership. One POP email account is provided to each paid member. Member email accounts can be used for professional or personal purpose (10MB limit). Users can access email with any email client or by going to http://www.literacyworkshop.org/webmail and logging in with user name and password. Users have choice of “Horde” or “Squirrelmail” interface.

Webspace
Available with any paid membership. Webspace is provided for personal use file storage or for a personal or classroom website. Users can access their webspace via FTP or can select to use a Content Management System.

Email List
Available to public at no charge. This includes the main list and participation in any organized breakout or chat lists. List messages are available only to members of the list. Listserv members can get messages as they are received or compiled in one digest message at the end of the day. The main list generates 10-20 messages per day.

Shared Documents
Available to public at no charge. Any document that creates interest in list membership can be shared on our website. Documents for sharing are sent to the webmaster and then posted in RTF, DOC, and PDF formats and can be freely downloaded from the TLW website.

*The Literacy Workshop reserves the right to limit access to tools and resources to approved educational professionals. From time to time people requesting tools with paid memberships will be asked to verify educational affiliation.