What is Penzu? "Penzu is an online journaling resource that allows its users to privately or publicly journal for personal, professional, and/or academic.

Presentation on theme: "What is Penzu? "Penzu is an online journaling resource that allows its users to privately or publicly journal for personal, professional, and/or academic."— Presentation transcript:

1 What is Penzu? "Penzu is an online journaling resource that allows its users to privately or publicly journal for personal, professional, and/or academic purpose." (

2 Educational Objectives
Journal writing can aide in the development of oral, speaking, and writing skills. Students will demonstrate writing, discussion, and creative abilities through the use of online journal tools, like Penzu. Through journal writing, students are encouraged to appraise their own learning and achievement as well as examine thier thoughts and feelings about what they are learning.  These will serve as a means for students to review their learning, comprehend progress, and reflect on their personal work ethics, values, attitudes, beliefs, and motivations.

3 Educational Benefits Educators can review the journal writings to see if it meets specific goals or purposes. Students writing can be assessed for content, creativity, and even writing skills. "Students are able to express themselves through writing without the pressure they typically have when doing assignments" (Hopkins, 1999). Penzu allows for privacy or sharing, which allows students to feel safe about their own writing. Penzu can be used for many years as an excellent tool to show students progress and growth in grammar, writing, and spelling. This free tool can be accessed anywhere Internet is avaliable.

4 (http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com/Penzu) sam
Positives of Penzu It is a free online diary and personal journal that doesn't cost any teacher, school or student money.  It focuses on privacy. You can keep your thoughts and ideas to yourself and only share what you want to. Your ability to share is very user friendly through or any public link.  No pen or paper needed; resulting in less paper to buy, and use. You can journal from any computer or phone with an internet connection. All entries are saved at your desired privacy level and format. You can connect Penzu to Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, Digg, or Stumbleupon Entries can be printed and are not deleted or lost. Photos can be posted within each entry. ( sam

5 Negatives of Penzu "Depending on the privacy level, not all information can be seen. This may be a problem in the event a student may require intervention (i.e. bullying, etc.)." If you don't have access to a computer and/or internet, than this tool becomes very limited.  ( Students could use it at home and write inappropriate material to friends and then it could be seen at school. Although you can insert images, you are unable to post videos or active links on entries.

6 Lesson Ideas and Use Teachers
share at open house to see writing growth of child  store anecdotal notes/observation notes share ideas and entries with other teachers in the district to collaborate  reflect on their teaching use it at professional developments and seminars to take notes and share with colleagues record what they did in class and what to follow up on Students  respond to a writing prompt Prompts can include: write a story answer a question complete a sentence figure out a math problem using words to reflect on their learning in other classes  note-taking class editing tool (send your writing to a peer and have them put comments at the bottom)

7 Videos Demogirl Tutorial
This video shows you how to create an entry, insert images, share, save and search for entries. It also provides ideas for using the journal. Penzu Pro has more customizable features.

8 Videos This video shows what a completed entry with an image might look like. This video shows you how to make an entry, password to protect your entry, and emphasizes the importance of remembering your password.

9 For inquiry and problem based learning:
Opinions/Ideas For inquiry and problem based learning: Educators: A tool to keep teaching ideas and resources organized. A way to reflect on how particular classes are going in order to help all learning styles to be met. Educators can use this to keep a log of class activities and upcoming events and then ask for feedback and participation from others who view the journal entries. For Students: Penzu is a great tool for students to record their thoughts, emotions, and inspirations. This tool can be used by students to record notes and information during lessons or projects. Penzu can be used collaboratively with others for creative writing activities. Students can create a summer journal and include pictures of what they did and share it in the fall.

10 Illustration of Penzu in the classroom
Example and product using Penzu: Please view a lesson plan by clicking on this link: After viewing the lesson plan please view the next slide to see an example entry on Penzu. 

11 This is a sample Penzu entry that would be used with the lesson plan from previous screen.

12 More Opinions and Ideas
Penzu is free and anyone can access it from a computer with Internet access.  This makes it an easily available tool for education.  Students can practice their keyboarding skills and securely share their work with teachers, classmates, and family members. Classroom Activity Ideas Science Notebook Reading Log Daily Writing Journal Writing Workshop Stories Field Trip Journal Experiment Log Peer Editing Tool Assignment Book

13 Example Inquiry/Problem-Based Learning Lesson Plan

14 Penzu Book Report Example

15 3rd Grade Opinions and Ideas
For third grade, this tool has many benefits that can enhance student learning and teach 21st century skills. Penzu will give students the chance to practice using Web 2.0, keyboarding skills, and creating their own products in writing. Students will be able to share their writings with peers, teachers, family, and friends.   Ideas for a 3rd grade classroom that follow 3rd grade standards: writing a personal narrative journal writing letter writing w/ responses peer editing/revising brainstorming book reporting paragraph writing response to literature note-taking for reports self-reflections on learning creating a story with plot, characters, setting

16 Example for Teachers As mentioned in the "Lesson Ideas and Use" slide, Penzu can be a great learning tool for students, but it can also be a great tool for teachers to use in their classroom.  Teachers can use Penzu to take anecdotal notes on students for the following reasons: Student is being referred to Intervention Assistance Team. Student in on an IEP, so the teacher can show progress, strengths and weaknesses.  Teacher can take observation notes on the child in the following areas: interactions with peers learning styles academic weaknesses/strengths    **Go to the next page to see an example of an anecdotal record using Penzu

17   *The example below shows how a teacher can use Penzu to take anecdotal notes on students that are struggling or going to be referred to the Intervention Assistance Team. *

18 Resources Hopkins, G. (1999). Journal Writing Every Day: Teachers Say It Really Works.          Retrieved July 22, 2010, from         Marshalwoody. (2010, June 19). Penzu.mov [Video File] Video Posted to           Molly Mcdonald. (2008, July 24). Screencast tour of Penzu [Video File] Video posted      to        of-Penzu/ Penzulc. (2010, February 2). Penzu Pro-Quiz Demo [Video File] Video posted to       Survivorboi. (2009, July 30). Online Diary/Journal 100% Secure and Private! FREE      to use! [Video File] Video posted to      v=_tYxS0t6DZw&NR=1