Online diary

Modern online platforms allow pupils and students to have easy access to text processing programs. Keeping a diary helps them develop a variety of skills, such as linguistic skills, the ability to choose creative topics and the use of media to share their diary with others.

Procedure

Every day, the students describe a certain number of specific activities in their diary. The amount of activities depends on the age, the abilities and the needs of the writer. The child might write a small text in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Depending on age and language, the correct use of tenses should be required.

The diary could be published online (for example using office 365) to allow the teacher to read it and give a personal feedback. He can do so by inserting comments within the document or by using the Chat feature in Teams or other communication platforms.

In addition to the text, the diary can be completed by photos, as well as audio and video material.

Material

Computer, tablet or smartphone with access to the platform Office (for example MS Office 365, G Suite, etc.)

If a child has no access to internet platforms, he/she can write the diary in longhand. It will be shared with peers when back in school. Alternatively, students can send their report via post mail.

Tips and tricks

Keeping an online diary is possible by using Office 365 programs. Nevertheless, other platforms can be used. The teacher creates a folder for his class on Teams (or Sharepoint, or any other digital platform familiar to the class). In this folder, he sets up a Word document for each child, indicating the structure to be followed. A title and eventually a model text serving as an example can be added. The document has to be filled out by the student who will pay attention to orthography and grammar.

To motivate their students, teachers might set an example and also keep a diary that will be shared with their class.