Welcome to Blogging Basics

Agenda

• Let’s define blogs

• Develop an understanding of blogs

• Identify ways to use blogs in education

• Look at two examples of active blogs; Blogger and Wordpress

• Learn how to start your own log

• Have fun

What is a Blog?• A blog is a website in which items are posted on a

regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. The term blog is a shortened form of weblog or web log. Authoring a blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to an existing blog is called “blogging”. Individual articles on a blog are called “blog posts,” “posts” or “entries”. A person who posts these entries is called a “blogger”. A blog comprises text, hypertext, images, and links (to other web pages and to video, audio and other files). There are numerous kinds of blogs; some political, some content based, and some blogs discuss personal experiences.

How to Use Blogs in Education• Content-related blogs• Networking and personal knowledge sharing• Instructional tips for students• Course announcements and readings• Reflective or writing journals• Assignment submission and review• Dialogue for group work• E-portfolios• Share course-related resources

Why Blog in the Classroom• It gives writing a purpose• It involves different learning styles• It can inspire students• Your students can inspire others• Students who do not participate in

class may be more willing to talk online

Things to Consider First!

• Goals need to be clear

• Feedback needs to be immediate

and meaningful

• Expectations can be teacher and/or student formulated.

• Narrative assessment or rubric assessment or no assessment

How are you going to manage your blog?

1. Do your homework, become a blogger

2. Select your blog hosting service by

type of blog you want to have

3. Begin with one main account and have students go through stages of blogging

4. Model/Scaffold what is a quality post/comment

5. Expectations should be clear; blogging rules/etiquette and blogging safety.