A blog’s not just A blog’s not just for Christmas!for Christmas!

or ….using blogs to enhance

year-round teaching and learning

Val Vannet , High School of Val Vannet , High School of DundeeDundee

SAGT Conference SAGT Conference 20072007

The what, what for and why?

A weblogweblog or blogblog consists of entries or posts arranged in reverse chronological order. Entries usually have text with links to other websites though photos, audio and video may also be included. Many blogs are interactive as readers may leave comments

Blog noun (short for Weblog) 1999 : a website that contains an on-line personal journal with reflections, comments ,images and hyperlinks provided by the writer

Many blogs focus on specialist subject areas. Others are more personal. Some people use them as a means of sharing family events with friends and relatives….. Christmas?!

Everybody’s doing it!

Blog eat blog?

Raining cats and blogs……..

so… many people get a blog, love it briefly, then abandon it!

Since May 2006 over 20,000,000 new blogs have been created. About 10,000,000 have since been ‘abandoned’ and of the rest only around 1,100,000 are updated regularly. I write just four of those……..

www.gmpay.blogspot.com

www.hsdiceland.blogspot.com

www.highergeogblog.blogspot.com

www.geobloggingwithmark.blogspot.com

The benefits of having a blog..

Enhancing Learning and

Teaching

Follow up information

from lessons

Communicate when students

are ‘away’

Encourage further

research

Create a link with home

and parents

Set homework

on-line

Create a link with home

and parents

“…it gets you out talking”

Post reminders e.g. dates Link to and

network with other schools

The benefits of having a blog..

Links with ‘Constructivist’ methodologies..

• Learning is active and interactive• There is a shift of focus from teacher to student• Teachers engage in dialogue with students• Knowledge is dynamic, and changes with our experiences

• The process of learning is as important as the product • Students are encouraged to consult primary sources• Students are encouraged to collaborate with others : i.e.

‘social constructivism’

Knowledge is ‘created’ through an active process by the learner. Some features are that…..

There are some who would say that education has gone to the blogs……

Choosing a blog host….

‘Beginner’ bloggers will probably wish to use a service which requires no software installation …. there are plenty to choose from but among the most popular are:

http://www.blogger.com

http://www.typepad.com

http://wordpress.com

http://www.xanga.com

http://www.livejournal.com

Every blog has its way…..

Start bloggingHere is a good beginner’s guide to starting a Blogger blog. Download from : http://www.4shared.com/file/12833499/1c9e6fa0/A_guide_to_setting_up_a_weblog.html

Thanks, John!

No point in having a blog and barking yourself!

…and a similar, excellent guide for beginners to WordPress blogging courtesy of Rob Chambers which you can download from this page

http://igeog.wordpress.com/ict-trainingst-ivo/blogs-and-wikis

Thanks, Rob!

Adding ‘widgets’ to your sidebar..

or….. teaching an old blog new tricks

http://clustrmaps.com

http://www.clocklink.com

http://www.amazingcounters.com

http://www.free-blog-content.com

http://weatherpixie.comhttp://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/geovisitor

Adding variety to your posts..

Add slideshows with :

http://www.slideshare.net

http://www.slide.com

Embed video from:

http://www.youtube.com

http://video.google.co.uk

Use polling software to ask questions :

http://www.vizu.com

Add podcasts :http://www.podcastingnews.com/articles/Make_Podcast_Blogger.html

Link to uploaded files with http://www.4shared.com ,

http://www.electronicfiles.net or http://box.net

Exploring the geoedublogosphere..!“Gone to the blogs……”

http://www.weblogg-ed.com

http://edu.blogs.com

http://www.olliebray.com

http://www.geographypages.co.uk/blogs.htm

http://www.fordlog.com

http://geographyjazz.blogspot.com

http://kespilotgeography.blogspot.com http://pilotgcseradicalgeography.co.uk

http://www.daviderogers.blogspot.com http://www.geobytesgcse.blogspot.com

http://geoganimations.blogspot.com http://geographyalltheway.com/WordPress

http://www.geogtastic.blogspot.com

http://noeljenkins.wordpress.com http://geodonn.blogspot.com

http://geogblogbushloe.blogspot.com

http://www.games4geog.com

http://www.gearthblog.com

http://ablogsnotjustforchristmas.blogspot.com

This presentation and its associated links and resources can be found at :

http://ablogsnotjustforchristmas.blogspot.com

Feel free to add comments to the blog. It would be good to hear from you!

Not tonight,dear …I’m blogging

…a case of love me, love my blog?!

And finally… a word of caution..Blogging can be compulsive and addictive…